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Nikmaneshi MR, Jain RK, Munn LL. Computational simulations of tumor growth and treatment response: Benefits of high-frequency, low-dose drug regimens and concurrent vascular normalization. PLoS Comput Biol 2023; 19:e1011131. [PMID: 37289729 PMCID: PMC10249820 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1011131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Implementation of effective cancer treatment strategies requires consideration of how the spatiotemporal heterogeneities within the tumor microenvironment (TME) influence tumor progression and treatment response. Here, we developed a multi-scale three-dimensional mathematical model of the TME to simulate tumor growth and angiogenesis and then employed the model to evaluate an array of single and combination therapy approaches. Treatments included maximum tolerated dose or metronomic (i.e., frequent low doses) scheduling of anti-cancer drugs combined with anti-angiogenic therapy. The results show that metronomic therapy normalizes the tumor vasculature to improve drug delivery, modulates cancer metabolism, decreases interstitial fluid pressure and decreases cancer cell invasion. Further, we find that combining an anti-cancer drug with anti-angiogenic treatment enhances tumor killing and reduces drug accumulation in normal tissues. We also show that combined anti-angiogenic and anti-cancer drugs can decrease cancer invasiveness and normalize the cancer metabolic microenvironment leading to reduced hypoxia and hypoglycemia. Our model simulations suggest that vessel normalization combined with metronomic cytotoxic therapy has beneficial effects by enhancing tumor killing and limiting normal tissue toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad R. Nikmaneshi
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
| | - Rakesh K. Jain
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Lance L. Munn
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
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2
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Nikmaneshi MR, Firoozabadi B. Investigation of cancer response to chemotherapy: a hybrid multi-scale mathematical and computational model of the tumor microenvironment. Biomech Model Mechanobiol 2022; 21:1233-1249. [PMID: 35614373 DOI: 10.1007/s10237-022-01587-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 04/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Tumor microenvironment (TME) is a multi-scale biological environment that can control tumor dynamics with many biomechanical and biochemical factors. Investigating the physiology of TME with a heterogeneous structure and abnormal functions not only can achieve a deeper understanding of tumor behavior but also can help develop more efficient anti-cancer strategies. In this work, we develop a hybrid multi-scale mathematical model of TME to simulate the progression of a three-dimensional tumor and elucidate its response to different chemotherapy approaches. The chemotherapy approaches include multiple low dose (MLD) of anti-cancer drug, maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of anti-cancer drug, combination therapy of MLD and anti-angiogenic drug, and combination therapy of MTD and anti-angiogenic drug. The results show that combining anti-angiogenic agent with anti-cancer drug increases the performance of cancer treatment and decreases side effects for normal tissue. Indeed, the vascular normalization caused by anti-angiogenic therapy improves anti-cancer drug delivery for both MLD and MTD approaches. The results show that anti-cancer drug administered in a lower dose than the maximum tolerated dose repetitively over a long period treats cancer with a considerable performance and fewer side effects. We also show that tumor morphology and distribution of cancer cell phenotypes can be considered as the characteristics to distinguish different chemotherapy approaches. This robust model can be applied to predict the behavior of any type of cancer and quantify cancer response to different chemotherapy approaches. The computational results of cancer response to chemotherapy are in good agreement with experimental measurements.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Bahar Firoozabadi
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran.
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3
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Lee GH, Huang SA, Aw WY, Rathod M, Cho C, Ligler FS, Polacheck WJ. Multilayer microfluidic platform for the study of luminal, transmural, and interstitial flow. Biofabrication 2022; 14:10.1088/1758-5090/ac48e5. [PMID: 34991082 PMCID: PMC8867496 DOI: 10.1088/1758-5090/ac48e5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 01/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Efficient delivery of oxygen and nutrients to tissues requires an intricate balance of blood, lymphatic, and interstitial fluid pressures (IFPs), and gradients in fluid pressure drive the flow of blood, lymph, and interstitial fluid through tissues. While specific fluid mechanical stimuli, such as wall shear stress, have been shown to modulate cellular signaling pathways along with gene and protein expression patterns, an understanding of the key signals imparted by flowing fluid and how these signals are integrated across multiple cells and cell types in native tissues is incomplete due to limitations with current assays. Here, we introduce a multi-layer microfluidic platform (MμLTI-Flow) that enables the culture of engineered blood and lymphatic microvessels and independent control of blood, lymphatic, and IFPs. Using optical microscopy methods to measure fluid velocity for applied input pressures, we demonstrate varying rates of interstitial fluid flow as a function of blood, lymphatic, and interstitial pressure, consistent with computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models. The resulting microfluidic and computational platforms will provide for analysis of key fluid mechanical parameters and cellular mechanisms that contribute to diseases in which fluid imbalances play a role in progression, including lymphedema and solid cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gi-hun Lee
- Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University
| | - Stephanie A. Huang
- Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University
| | - Wen Y. Aw
- Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University
| | - Mitesh Rathod
- Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University
| | - Crescentia Cho
- Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University
| | - Frances S. Ligler
- Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University
| | - William J. Polacheck
- Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University,Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill,McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
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4
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Nikmaneshi MR, Firoozabadi B, Mozafari A. Chemo-mechanistic multi-scale model of a three-dimensional tumor microenvironment to quantify the chemotherapy response of cancer. Biotechnol Bioeng 2021; 118:3871-3887. [PMID: 34133020 DOI: 10.1002/bit.27863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2021] [Revised: 06/02/2021] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Exploring efficient chemotherapy would benefit from a deeper understanding of the tumor microenvironment (TME) and its role in tumor progression. As in vivo experimental methods are unable to isolate or control individual factors of the TME, and in vitro models often cannot include all the contributing factors, some questions are best addressed with mathematical models of systems biology. In this study, we establish a multi-scale mathematical model of the TME to simulate three-dimensional tumor growth and angiogenesis and then implement the model for an array of chemotherapy approaches to elucidate the effect of TME conditions and drug scheduling on controlling tumor progression. The hyperglycemic condition as the most common disorder for cancer patients is considered to evaluate its impact on cancer response to chemotherapy. We show that combining antiangiogenic and anticancer drugs improves the outcome of treatment and can decrease accumulation of the drug in normal tissue and enhance drug delivery to the tumor. Our results demonstrate that although both concurrent and neoadjuvant combination therapies can increase intratumoral drug exposure and therapeutic accuracy, neoadjuvant therapy surpasses this, especially against hyperglycemia. Our model provides mechanistic explanations for clinical observations of tumor progression and response to treatment and establishes a computational framework for exploring better treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Bahar Firoozabadi
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
| | - Aliasghar Mozafari
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
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5
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Wang WY, Jarman EH, Lin D, Baker BM. Dynamic Endothelial Stalk Cell-Matrix Interactions Regulate Angiogenic Sprout Diameter. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2021; 9:620128. [PMID: 33869150 PMCID: PMC8044977 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2021.620128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2020] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Angiogenesis is a complex, multicellular process that involves bidirectional interactions between extracellular matrix (ECM) and collectively invading endothelial cell (EC) sprouts that extend the microvasculature during development, wound healing, and disease processes. While many aspects of angiogenesis have been well studied, the relationship between endothelial sprout morphology and subsequent neovessel function remains relatively unknown. Here, we investigated how various soluble and physical matrix cues that regulate endothelial sprouting speed and proliferation correspond to changes in sprout morphology, namely, sprout stalk diameter. We found that sprout stalk cells utilize a combination of cytoskeletal forces and proteolysis to physically compact and degrade the surrounding matrix, thus creating sufficient space in three-dimensional (3D) ECM for lateral expansion. As increasing sprout diameter precedes lumenization to generate perfusable neovessels, this work highlights how dynamic endothelial stalk cell-ECM interactions promote the generation of functional neovessels during sprouting angiogenesis to provide insight into the design of vascularized, implantable biomaterials.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Brendon M. Baker
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
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6
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A multi-scale model for determining the effects of pathophysiology and metabolic disorders on tumor growth. Sci Rep 2020; 10:3025. [PMID: 32080250 PMCID: PMC7033139 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-59658-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2019] [Accepted: 01/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
The search for efficient chemotherapy drugs and other anti-cancer treatments would benefit from a deeper understanding of the tumor microenvironment (TME) and its role in tumor progression. Because in vivo experimental methods are unable to isolate or control individual factors of the TME and in vitro models often do not include all the contributing factors, some questions are best addressed with systems biology mathematical models. In this work, we present a new fully-coupled, agent-based, multi-scale mathematical model of tumor growth, angiogenesis and metabolism that includes important aspects of the TME spanning subcellular-, cellular- and tissue-level scales. The mathematical model is computationally implemented for a three-dimensional TME, and a double hybrid continuous-discrete (DHCD) method is applied to solve the governing equations. The model recapitulates the distinct morphological and metabolic stages of a solid tumor, starting with an avascular tumor and progressing through angiogenesis and vascularized tumor growth. To examine the robustness of the model, we simulated normal and abnormal blood conditions, including hyperglycemia/hypoglycemia, hyperoxemia/hypoxemia, and hypercarbia/hypocarbia - conditions common in cancer patients. The results demonstrate that tumor progression is accelerated by hyperoxemia, hyperglycemia and hypercarbia but inhibited by hypoxemia and hypoglycemia; hypocarbia had no appreciable effect. Because of the importance of interstitial fluid flow in tumor physiology, we also examined the effects of hypo- or hypertension, and the impact of decreased hydraulic conductivity common in desmoplastic tumors. The simulations show that chemotherapy-increased blood pressure, or reduction of interstitial hydraulic conductivity increase tumor growth rate and contribute to tumor malignancy.
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7
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Du Y, Herath SCB, Wang QG, Asada H, Chen PCY. Determination of Green's function for three-dimensional traction force reconstruction based on geometry and boundary conditions of cell culture matrices. Acta Biomater 2018; 67:215-228. [PMID: 29242157 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2017.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2017] [Revised: 11/20/2017] [Accepted: 12/04/2017] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Cell migration plays a particular important role in the initiation and progression of many physical processes and pathological conditions such as tumor invasion and metastasis. Three-dimensional traction force microscopy (TFM) of high resolution and high accuracy is being developed in an effort to unveil the underlying mechanical process of cell migration in a vivo-like environment. Linear elasticity-based TFM (LETM) as a mainstream approach relies on the Green's function (that relates traction forces to matrix deformation), of which the inherent boundary conditions and geometry of the matrix could remarkably affect the result as suggested by previous 2D studies. In this study, we investigated this close linkage in 3D environment, via modeling of a cell sensing a close-by fixed boundary of a 3D matrix surrounding it, and comparing the reconstructed traction forces from three different solutions of the Green's function, including a fully matching solution derived using the adapted Mindlin's approach. To increase fidelity in the estimate of traction forces for extreme conditions such as a sparse sampling of deformation field or targeting small focal adhesions, we numerically solved the singularity problem of the Green's function in a non-conventional way to avoid exclusion of singular point regions that could contain representative deformation indicators for such extreme conditions. A single case experimental study was conducted for a multi-cellular structure of endothelial cells that just penetrated into the gel at the early stage of angiogenesis. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE This study focused on the fundamental issue regarding extension of linear elasticity-based TFM to deal with physically realistic matrices (where cells are encapsulated), which concerns determination of the Green's function matching their geometry and boundary conditions. To increase fidelity in the estimate of traction forces for extreme conditions such as a sparse sampling of deformation field or targeting small focal adhesions, we numerically solved the singularity problem of the Green's function to avoid exclusion of singular point regions that could contain representative deformation indicators for such extreme conditions. The proposed approach to adapting the Green's function for the specific 3D cell culture situation was examined in a single case experimental study of endothelial cells in sprouting angiogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Du
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore; BioSystems and Micromechanics Interdisciplinary Research Group, Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology Program, Singapore
| | - S C B Herath
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore; BioSystems and Micromechanics Interdisciplinary Research Group, Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology Program, Singapore
| | - Q G Wang
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering Science, University of Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - H Asada
- BioSystems and Micromechanics Interdisciplinary Research Group, Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology Program, Singapore; Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA
| | - P C Y Chen
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore; BioSystems and Micromechanics Interdisciplinary Research Group, Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology Program, Singapore.
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8
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Chaddad H, Kuchler-Bopp S, Fuhrmann G, Gegout H, Ubeaud-Sequier G, Schwinté P, Bornert F, Benkirane-Jessel N, Idoux-Gillet Y. Combining 2D angiogenesis and 3D osteosarcoma microtissues to improve vascularization. Exp Cell Res 2017; 360:138-145. [PMID: 28867479 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2017.08.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2017] [Revised: 08/23/2017] [Accepted: 08/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Angiogenesis is now well known for being involved in tumor progression, aggressiveness, emergence of metastases, and also resistance to cancer therapies. In this study, to better mimic tumor angiogenesis encountered in vivo, we used 3D culture of osteosarcoma cells (MG-63) that we deposited on 2D endothelial cells (HUVEC) grown in monolayer. We report that endothelial cells combined with tumor cells were able to form a well-organized network, and that tubule-like structures corresponding to new vessels infiltrate tumor spheroids. These vessels presented a lumen and expressed specific markers as CD31 and collagen IV. The combination of 2D endothelial cells and 3D microtissues of tumor cells also increased expression of angiogenic factors as VEGF, CXCR4 and ICAM1. The cell environment is the key point to develop tumor vascularization in vitro and to be closer to tumor encountered in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hassan Chaddad
- INSERM, UMR 1109, Osteoarticular and Dental Regenerative NanoMedicine Laboratory, FMTS, 11 rue Humann, Strasbourg, France; Université de Strasbourg, UMR CNRS 7213, EA7293, Faculté de Pharmacie, route du Rhin, 67401 Illkirch-Graffenstaden, France
| | - Sabine Kuchler-Bopp
- INSERM, UMR 1109, Osteoarticular and Dental Regenerative NanoMedicine Laboratory, FMTS, 11 rue Humann, Strasbourg, France; Université de Strasbourg, Faculté de Chirurgie Dentaire, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg (HUS), Strasbourg F-67000, France
| | - Guy Fuhrmann
- INSERM, UMR 1109, Osteoarticular and Dental Regenerative NanoMedicine Laboratory, FMTS, 11 rue Humann, Strasbourg, France; Université de Strasbourg, UMR CNRS 7213, EA7293, Faculté de Pharmacie, route du Rhin, 67401 Illkirch-Graffenstaden, France
| | - Hervé Gegout
- INSERM, UMR 1109, Osteoarticular and Dental Regenerative NanoMedicine Laboratory, FMTS, 11 rue Humann, Strasbourg, France; Université de Strasbourg, Faculté de Chirurgie Dentaire, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg (HUS), Strasbourg F-67000, France
| | - Geneviève Ubeaud-Sequier
- INSERM, UMR 1109, Osteoarticular and Dental Regenerative NanoMedicine Laboratory, FMTS, 11 rue Humann, Strasbourg, France; Université de Strasbourg, UMR CNRS 7213, EA7293, Faculté de Pharmacie, route du Rhin, 67401 Illkirch-Graffenstaden, France
| | - Pascale Schwinté
- INSERM, UMR 1109, Osteoarticular and Dental Regenerative NanoMedicine Laboratory, FMTS, 11 rue Humann, Strasbourg, France; Université de Strasbourg, Faculté de Chirurgie Dentaire, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg (HUS), Strasbourg F-67000, France
| | - Fabien Bornert
- INSERM, UMR 1109, Osteoarticular and Dental Regenerative NanoMedicine Laboratory, FMTS, 11 rue Humann, Strasbourg, France; Université de Strasbourg, Faculté de Chirurgie Dentaire, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg (HUS), Strasbourg F-67000, France
| | - Nadia Benkirane-Jessel
- INSERM, UMR 1109, Osteoarticular and Dental Regenerative NanoMedicine Laboratory, FMTS, 11 rue Humann, Strasbourg, France; Université de Strasbourg, Faculté de Chirurgie Dentaire, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg (HUS), Strasbourg F-67000, France.
| | - Ysia Idoux-Gillet
- INSERM, UMR 1109, Osteoarticular and Dental Regenerative NanoMedicine Laboratory, FMTS, 11 rue Humann, Strasbourg, France; Université de Strasbourg, Faculté de Chirurgie Dentaire, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg (HUS), Strasbourg F-67000, France.
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9
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Ibrahim M, Richardson MK. Beyond organoids: In vitro vasculogenesis and angiogenesis using cells from mammals and zebrafish. Reprod Toxicol 2017; 73:292-311. [PMID: 28697965 DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2017.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2017] [Revised: 06/12/2017] [Accepted: 07/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The ability to culture complex organs is currently an important goal in biomedical research. It is possible to grow organoids (3D organ-like structures) in vitro; however, a major limitation of organoids, and other 3D culture systems, is the lack of a vascular network. Protocols developed for establishing in vitro vascular networks typically use human or rodent cells. A major technical challenge is the culture of functional (perfused) networks. In this rapidly advancing field, some microfluidic devices are now getting close to the goal of an artificially perfused vascular network. Another development is the emergence of the zebrafish as a complementary model to mammals. In this review, we discuss the culture of endothelial cells and vascular networks from mammalian cells, and examine the prospects for using zebrafish cells for this objective. We also look into the future and consider how vascular networks in vitro might be successfully perfused using microfluidic technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Ibrahim
- Animal Science and Health Cluster, Institute of Biology Leiden, Leiden University, The Netherlands; Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, The University of Agriculture, Peshawar, Pakistan
| | - Michael K Richardson
- Animal Science and Health Cluster, Institute of Biology Leiden, Leiden University, The Netherlands.
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10
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Vavourakis V, Wijeratne PA, Shipley R, Loizidou M, Stylianopoulos T, Hawkes DJ. A Validated Multiscale In-Silico Model for Mechano-sensitive Tumour Angiogenesis and Growth. PLoS Comput Biol 2017; 13:e1005259. [PMID: 28125582 PMCID: PMC5268362 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1005259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2016] [Accepted: 11/21/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Vascularisation is a key feature of cancer growth, invasion and metastasis. To better understand the governing biophysical processes and their relative importance, it is instructive to develop physiologically representative mathematical models with which to compare to experimental data. Previous studies have successfully applied this approach to test the effect of various biochemical factors on tumour growth and angiogenesis. However, these models do not account for the experimentally observed dependency of angiogenic network evolution on growth-induced solid stresses. This work introduces two novel features: the effects of hapto- and mechanotaxis on vessel sprouting, and mechano-sensitive dynamic vascular remodelling. The proposed three-dimensional, multiscale, in-silico model of dynamically coupled angiogenic tumour growth is specified to in-vivo and in-vitro data, chosen, where possible, to provide a physiologically consistent description. The model is then validated against in-vivo data from murine mammary carcinomas, with particular focus placed on identifying the influence of mechanical factors. Crucially, we find that it is necessary to include hapto- and mechanotaxis to recapitulate observed time-varying spatial distributions of angiogenic vasculature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vasileios Vavourakis
- University College London, Centre for Medical Image Computing, Department of Medical Physics & Biomedical Engineering, London, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
| | - Peter A. Wijeratne
- University College London, Centre for Medical Image Computing, Department of Medical Physics & Biomedical Engineering, London, United Kingdom
| | - Rebecca Shipley
- University College London, Department of Mechanical Engineering, London, United Kingdom
| | - Marilena Loizidou
- University College London, Department of Surgery, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - David J. Hawkes
- University College London, Centre for Medical Image Computing, Department of Medical Physics & Biomedical Engineering, London, United Kingdom
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11
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Vasculature-On-A-Chip for In Vitro Disease Models. Bioengineering (Basel) 2017; 4:bioengineering4010008. [PMID: 28952486 PMCID: PMC5590435 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering4010008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2016] [Revised: 01/17/2017] [Accepted: 01/19/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Vascularization, the formation of new blood vessels, is an essential biological process. As the vasculature is involved in various fundamental physiological phenomena and closely related to several human diseases, it is imperative that substantial research is conducted on characterizing the vasculature and its related diseases. A significant evolution has been made to describe the vascularization process so that in vitro recapitulation of vascularization is possible. The current microfluidic systems allow elaborative research on the effects of various cues for vascularization, and furthermore, in vitro technologies have a great potential for being applied to the vascular disease models for studying pathological events and developing drug screening platforms. Here, we review methods of fabrication for microfluidic assays and inducing factors for vascularization. We also discuss applications using engineered vasculature such as in vitro vascular disease models, vasculature in organ-on-chips and drug screening platforms.
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12
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Zervantonakis IK, Arvanitis CD. Controlled Drug Release and Chemotherapy Response in a Novel Acoustofluidic 3D Tumor Platform. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2016; 12:2616-26. [PMID: 27031786 PMCID: PMC4889337 DOI: 10.1002/smll.201503342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2015] [Revised: 02/02/2016] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Overcoming transport barriers to delivery of therapeutic agents in tumors remains a major challenge. Focused ultrasound (FUS), in combination with modern nanomedicine drug formulations, offers the ability to maximize drug transport to tumor tissue while minimizing toxicity to normal tissue. This potential remains unfulfilled due to the limitations of current approaches in accurately assessing and quantifying how FUS modulates drug transport in solid tumors. A novel acoustofluidic platform is developed by integrating a physiologically relevant 3D microfluidic device and a FUS system with a closed-loop controller to study drug transport and assess the response of cancer cells to chemotherapy in real time using live cell microscopy. FUS-induced heating triggers local release of the chemotherapeutic agent doxorubicin from a liposomal carrier and results in higher cellular drug uptake in the FUS focal region. This differential drug uptake induces locally confined DNA damage and glioblastoma cell death in the 3D environment. The capabilities of acoustofluidics for accurate control of drug release and monitoring of localized cell response are demonstrated in a 3D in vitro tumor mode. This has important implications for developing novel strategies to deliver therapeutic agents directly to the tumor tissue while sparing healthy tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Costas D. Arvanitis
- Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women’s Hospital 221 Longwood Ave, 514a, Boston, 02115, MA
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13
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Du Y, Herath SCB, Wang QG, Wang DA, Asada HH, Chen PCY. Three-Dimensional Characterization of Mechanical Interactions between Endothelial Cells and Extracellular Matrix during Angiogenic Sprouting. Sci Rep 2016; 6:21362. [PMID: 26903154 PMCID: PMC4763258 DOI: 10.1038/srep21362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2015] [Accepted: 01/19/2016] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
We studied the three-dimensional cell-extracellular matrix interactions of endothelial cells that form multicellular structures called sprouts. We analyzed the data collected in-situ from angiogenic sprouting experiments and identified the differentiated interaction behavior exhibited by the tip and stalk cells. Moreover, our analysis of the tip cell lamellipodia revealed the diversity in their interaction behavior under certain conditions (e.g., when the heading of a sprout is switched approximately between the long-axis direction of two different lamellipodia). This study marks the first time that new characteristics of such interactions have been identified with shape changes in the sprouts and the associated rearrangements of collagen fibers. Clear illustrations of such changes are depicted in three-dimensional views.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Du
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore.,BioSystems and Micromechanics Interdisciplinary Research Group, Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology Program, Singapore
| | - Sahan C B Herath
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore.,BioSystems and Micromechanics Interdisciplinary Research Group, Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology Program, Singapore
| | - Qing-guo Wang
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering Science, University of Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Dong-an Wang
- Division of Bioengineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
| | - H Harry Asada
- BioSystems and Micromechanics Interdisciplinary Research Group, Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology Program, Singapore.,Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA
| | - Peter C Y Chen
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore.,BioSystems and Micromechanics Interdisciplinary Research Group, Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology Program, Singapore
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14
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van Duinen V, Trietsch SJ, Joore J, Vulto P, Hankemeier T. Microfluidic 3D cell culture: from tools to tissue models. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2015; 35:118-26. [PMID: 26094109 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2015.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 327] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2014] [Revised: 03/17/2015] [Accepted: 05/12/2015] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The transition from 2D to 3D cell culture techniques is an important step in a trend towards better biomimetic tissue models. Microfluidics allows spatial control over fluids in micrometer-sized channels has become a valuable tool to further increase the physiological relevance of 3D cell culture by enabling spatially controlled co-cultures, perfusion flow and spatial control over of signaling gradients. This paper reviews most important developments in microfluidic 3D culture since 2012. Most efforts were exerted in the field of vasculature, both as a tissue on its own and as part of cancer models. We observe that the focus is shifting from tool building to implementation of specific tissue models. The next big challenge for the field is the full validation of these models and subsequently the implementation of these models in drug development pipelines of the pharmaceutical industry and ultimately in personalized medicine applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent van Duinen
- Division of Analytical Biosciences, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, The Netherlands
| | - Sebastiaan J Trietsch
- Division of Analytical Biosciences, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, The Netherlands; Mimetas BV, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | | | - Paul Vulto
- Division of Analytical Biosciences, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, The Netherlands; Mimetas BV, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Thomas Hankemeier
- Division of Analytical Biosciences, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, The Netherlands.
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15
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Jeon JS, Bersini S, Whisler JA, Chen MB, Dubini G, Charest JL, Moretti M, Kamm RD. Generation of 3D functional microvascular networks with human mesenchymal stem cells in microfluidic systems. Integr Biol (Camb) 2014; 6:555-63. [PMID: 24676392 PMCID: PMC4307755 DOI: 10.1039/c3ib40267c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 163] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The generation of functional microvascular networks is critical for the development of advanced in vitro models to replicate pathophysiological conditions. Mural cells provide structural support to blood vessels and secrete biomolecules contributing to vessel stability and functionality. We investigated the role played by two endothelium-related molecules, angiopoietin (Ang-1) and transforming growth factor (TGF-β1), on bone marrow-derived human mesenchymal stem cell (BM-hMSC) phenotypic transition toward a mural cell lineage, both in monoculture and in direct contact with human endothelial cells (ECs), within 3D fibrin gels in microfluidic devices. We demonstrated that the effect of these molecules is dependent on direct heterotypic cell-cell contact. Moreover, we found a significant increase in the amount of α-smooth muscle actin in microvascular networks with added VEGF and TGF-β1 or VEGF and Ang-1 compared to networks with added VEGF alone. However, the addition of TGF-β1 generated a non-interconnected microvasculature, while Ang-1 promoted functional networks, confirmed by microsphere perfusion and permeability measurements. The presence of mural cell-like BM-hMSCs coupled with the addition of Ang-1 increased the number of network branches and reduced mean vessel diameter compared to EC only vasculature. This system has promising applications in the development of advanced in vitro models to study complex biological phenomena involving functional and perfusable microvascular networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessie S Jeon
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, USA 02139.
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16
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Ong LLS, Dauwels J, Ang MH, Asada HH. A Bayesian filtering approach to incorporate 2D/3D time-lapse confocal images for tracking angiogenic sprouting cells interacting with the gel matrix. Med Image Anal 2014; 18:211-27. [DOI: 10.1016/j.media.2013.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2013] [Revised: 09/29/2013] [Accepted: 10/15/2013] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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17
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Kovarik ML, Ornoff DM, Melvin AT, Dobes NC, Wang Y, Dickinson AJ, Gach PC, Shah PK, Allbritton NL. Micro total analysis systems: fundamental advances and applications in the laboratory, clinic, and field. Anal Chem 2013; 85:451-72. [PMID: 23140554 PMCID: PMC3546124 DOI: 10.1021/ac3031543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 170] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Michelle L. Kovarik
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599
| | - Douglas M. Ornoff
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599
| | - Adam T. Melvin
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599
| | - Nicholas C. Dobes
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599
| | - Yuli Wang
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599
| | - Alexandra J. Dickinson
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599
| | - Philip C. Gach
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599
| | - Pavak K. Shah
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599 and North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695
| | - Nancy L. Allbritton
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599 and North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695
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