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Lampejo AO, Lightsey SE, Gomes MC, Nguyen CM, Siemann DW, Sharma B, Murfee WL. A Novel Ex Vivo Tumor Spheroid-Tissue Model for Investigating Microvascular Remodeling and Lymphatic Blood Vessel Plasticity. Ann Biomed Eng 2024; 52:2457-2472. [PMID: 38796670 DOI: 10.1007/s10439-024-03535-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/28/2024]
Abstract
Biomimetic tumor microenvironment models bridge the gap between in vitro and in vivo systems and serve as a useful way to address the modeling challenge of how to recreate the cell and system complexity associated with real tissues. Our laboratory has developed an ex vivo rat mesentery culture model, which allows for simultaneous investigation of blood and lymphatic microvascular network remodeling in an intact tissue environment. Given that angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis are key contributors to the progression of cancer, the objective of this study was to combine tissue and tumor spheroid culture methods to establish a novel ex vivo tumor spheroid-tissue model by verifying its use for evaluating the effects of cancer cell behavior on the local microvascular environment. H1299 or A549 tumor spheroids were formed via hanging drop culture and seeded onto rat mesenteric tissues harvested from adult male Wistar rats. Tissues with transplanted spheroids were cultured in serum-free media for 3 to 5 days. PECAM, NG2, CD11b, and αSMA labeling identified endothelial cells, pericytes, immune cells, and smooth muscle cells, respectively. Time-lapse imaging confirmed cancer cell type specific migration. In addition to increasing PECAM positive capillary sprouting and LYVE-1 positive endothelial cell extensions indicative of lymphangiogenesis, tumor spheroid presence induced the formation of lymphatic/blood vessel connections and the formation of hybrid, mosaic vessels that were characterized by discontinuous LYVE-1 labeling. The results support the application of a novel tumor spheroid microenvironment model for investigating cancer cell-microvascular interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arinola O Lampejo
- J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- University of Florida Health Cancer Center, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Suzanne E Lightsey
- J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Maria C Gomes
- J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Christian M Nguyen
- J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Dietmar W Siemann
- University of Florida Health Cancer Center, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Florida, University of Florida Health, Gainesville, USA
| | - Blanka Sharma
- J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- University of Florida Health Cancer Center, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Walter L Murfee
- J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
- University of Florida Health Cancer Center, Gainesville, FL, USA.
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2
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Giannitelli SM, Peluzzi V, Raniolo S, Roscilli G, Trombetta M, Mozetic P, Rainer A. On-chip recapitulation of the tumor microenvironment: A decade of progress. Biomaterials 2024; 306:122482. [PMID: 38301325 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2024.122482] [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: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 01/20/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
One of the hurdles to the development of new anticancer therapies is the lack of in vitro models which faithfully reproduce the in vivo tumor microenvironment (TME). Understanding the dynamic relationships between the components of the TME in a controllable, scalable, and reliable setting would indeed support the discovery of biological targets impacting cancer diagnosis and therapy. Cancer research is increasingly shifting from traditional two-dimensional (2D) cell culture toward three-dimensional (3D) culture models, which have been demonstrated to increase the significance and predictive value of in vitro data. In this scenario, microphysiological systems (also known as organs-on-chip) have emerged as a relevant technological platform enabling more predictive investigation of cell-cell and cell-ECM interplay in cancer, attracting a significant research effort in the last years. This review illustrates one decade of progress in the field of tumor-microenvironment-on-chip (TMOC) approaches, exploiting either cell-laden microfluidic chambers or microfluidic confined tumor spheroids to model the TME. TMOCs have been designed to recapitulate several aspects of the TME, including tumor cells, the tumor-associated stroma, the immune system, and the vascular component. Significantly, the last aspect has emerged for its pivotal role in orchestrating cellular interactions and modulating drug pharmacokinetics on-chip. A further advancement has been represented by integration of TMOCs into multi-organ microphysiological systems, with the final aim to follow the metastatic cascade to target organs and to study the effects of chemotherapies at a systemic level. We highlight that the increased degree of complexity achieved by the most advanced TMOC models has enabled scientists to shed new light on the role of microenvironmental factors in tumor progression, metastatic cascade, and response to drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- S M Giannitelli
- Department of Science and Technology for Sustainable Development and One Health, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, via Álvaro del Portillo, 21, 00128, Rome, Italy.
| | - V Peluzzi
- Department of Engineering, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, via Álvaro del Portillo 21, 00128, Rome, Italy.
| | - S Raniolo
- Department of Science and Technology for Sustainable Development and One Health, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, via Álvaro del Portillo, 21, 00128, Rome, Italy.
| | - G Roscilli
- Takis s.r.l., Via di Castel Romano 100, 00128, Rome, Italy.
| | - M Trombetta
- Department of Science and Technology for Sustainable Development and One Health, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, via Álvaro del Portillo, 21, 00128, Rome, Italy.
| | - P Mozetic
- Institute of Nanotechnology (NANOTEC), National Research Council, via Monteroni, 73100, Lecce, Italy.
| | - A Rainer
- Department of Engineering, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, via Álvaro del Portillo 21, 00128, Rome, Italy; Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, via Álvaro del Portillo 200, 00128, Rome, Italy.
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3
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Ravi K, Manoharan TJM, Wang KC, Pockaj B, Nikkhah M. Engineered 3D ex vivo models to recapitulate the complex stromal and immune interactions within the tumor microenvironment. Biomaterials 2024; 305:122428. [PMID: 38147743 PMCID: PMC11098715 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2023.122428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/28/2023]
Abstract
Cancer thrives in a complex environment where interactions between cellular and acellular components, surrounding the tumor, play a crucial role in disease development and progression. Despite significant progress in cancer research, the mechanism driving tumor growth and therapeutic outcomes remains elusive. Two-dimensional (2D) cell culture assays and in vivo animal models are commonly used in cancer research and therapeutic testing. However, these models suffer from numerous shortcomings including lack of key features of the tumor microenvironment (TME) & cellular composition, cost, and ethical clearance. To that end, there is an increased interest in incorporating and elucidating the influence of TME on cancer progression. Advancements in 3D-engineered ex vivo models, leveraging biomaterials and microengineering technologies, have provided an unprecedented ability to reconstruct native-like bioengineered cancer models to study the heterotypic interactions of TME with a spatiotemporal organization. These bioengineered cancer models have shown excellent capabilities to bridge the gap between oversimplified 2D systems and animal models. In this review article, we primarily provide an overview of the immune and stromal cellular components of the TME and then discuss the latest state-of-the-art 3D-engineered ex vivo platforms aiming to recapitulate the complex TME features. The engineered TME model, discussed herein, are categorized into three main sections according to the cellular interactions within TME: (i) Tumor-Stromal interactions, (ii) Tumor-Immune interactions, and (iii) Complex TME interactions. Finally, we will conclude the article with a perspective on how these models can be instrumental for cancer translational studies and therapeutic testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kalpana Ravi
- School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering (SBHSE), Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287, USA
| | | | - Kuei-Chun Wang
- School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering (SBHSE), Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287, USA
| | | | - Mehdi Nikkhah
- School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering (SBHSE), Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287, USA; Biodesign Virginia G. Piper Center for Personalized Diagnostics, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287, USA.
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4
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Arutyunyan I, Jumaniyazova E, Makarov A, Fatkhudinov T. In Vitro Models of Head and Neck Cancer: From Primitive to Most Advanced. J Pers Med 2023; 13:1575. [PMID: 38003890 PMCID: PMC10672510 DOI: 10.3390/jpm13111575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Revised: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
For several decades now, researchers have been trying to answer the demand of clinical oncologists to create an ideal preclinical model of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) that is accessible, reproducible, and relevant. Over the past years, the development of cellular technologies has naturally allowed us to move from primitive short-lived primary 2D cell cultures to complex patient-derived 3D models that reproduce the cellular composition, architecture, mutational, or viral load of native tumor tissue. Depending on the tasks and capabilities, a scientific laboratory can choose from several types of models: primary cell cultures, immortalized cell lines, spheroids or heterospheroids, tissue engineering models, bioprinted models, organoids, tumor explants, and histocultures. HNSCC in vitro models make it possible to screen agents with potential antitumor activity, study the contribution of the tumor microenvironment to its progression and metastasis, determine the prognostic significance of individual biomarkers (including using genetic engineering methods), study the effect of viral infection on the pathogenesis of the disease, and adjust treatment tactics for a specific patient or groups of patients. Promising experimental results have created a scientific basis for the registration of several clinical studies using HNSCC in vitro models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irina Arutyunyan
- Research Institute of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, RUDN University, 6 Miklukho-Maklaya Street, 117198 Moscow, Russia; (I.A.); (A.M.); (T.F.)
- National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology Named after Academician V.I. Kulakov Ministry of Healthcare of the Russian Federation, 4 Oparina Street, 117997 Moscow, Russia
| | - Enar Jumaniyazova
- Research Institute of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, RUDN University, 6 Miklukho-Maklaya Street, 117198 Moscow, Russia; (I.A.); (A.M.); (T.F.)
| | - Andrey Makarov
- Research Institute of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, RUDN University, 6 Miklukho-Maklaya Street, 117198 Moscow, Russia; (I.A.); (A.M.); (T.F.)
- Histology Department, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Ministry of Healthcare of the Russian Federation, 117997 Moscow, Russia
| | - Timur Fatkhudinov
- Research Institute of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, RUDN University, 6 Miklukho-Maklaya Street, 117198 Moscow, Russia; (I.A.); (A.M.); (T.F.)
- Avtsyn Research Institute of Human Morphology of Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution Petrovsky National Research Centre of Surgery, 3 Tsyurupy Street, 117418 Moscow, Russia
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5
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Lahooti B, Akwii RG, Zahra FT, Sajib MS, Lamprou M, Alobaida A, Lionakis MS, Mattheolabakis G, Mikelis CM. Targeting endothelial permeability in the EPR effect. J Control Release 2023; 361:212-235. [PMID: 37517543 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2023.07.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Revised: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/23/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023]
Abstract
The characteristics of the primary tumor blood vessels and the tumor microenvironment drive the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect, which confers an advantage towards enhanced delivery of anti-cancer nanomedicine and has shown beneficial effects in preclinical models. Increased vascular permeability is a landmark feature of the tumor vessels and an important driver of the EPR. The main focus of this review is the endothelial regulation of vascular permeability. We discuss current challenges of targeting vascular permeability towards clinical translation and summarize the structural components and mechanisms of endothelial permeability, the principal mediators and signaling players, the targeted approaches that have been used and their outcomes to date. We also critically discuss the effects of the tumor-infiltrating immune cells, their interplay with the tumor vessels and the impact of immune responses on nanomedicine delivery, the impact of anti-angiogenic and tumor-stroma targeting approaches, and desirable nanoparticle design approaches for greater translational benefit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Behnaz Lahooti
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, TX 79106, USA
| | - Racheal G Akwii
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, TX 79106, USA
| | - Fatema Tuz Zahra
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, TX 79106, USA
| | - Md Sanaullah Sajib
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, TX 79106, USA
| | - Margarita Lamprou
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacy, University of Patras, Patras 26504, Greece
| | - Ahmed Alobaida
- Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Ha'il, Ha'il 81442, Saudi Arabia
| | - Michail S Lionakis
- Fungal Pathogenesis Section, Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - George Mattheolabakis
- School of Basic Pharmaceutical and Toxicological Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Louisiana at Monroe, Monroe, LA 71201, USA.
| | - Constantinos M Mikelis
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, TX 79106, USA; Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacy, University of Patras, Patras 26504, Greece.
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6
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Yau JNN, Adriani G. Three-dimensional heterotypic colorectal cancer spheroid models for evaluation of drug response. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1148930. [PMID: 37469395 PMCID: PMC10352797 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1148930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of death worldwide. Improved preclinical tumor models are needed to make treatment screening clinically relevant and address disease mortality. Advancements in 3D cell culture have enabled a greater recapitulation of the architecture and heterogeneity of the tumor microenvironment (TME). This has enhanced their pathophysiological relevance and enabled more accurate predictions of tumor progression and drug response in patients. An increasing number of 3D CRC spheroid models include cell populations such as cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), endothelial cells (ECs), immune cells, and gut bacteria to better mimic the in vivo regulation of signaling pathways. Furthermore, cell heterogeneity within the 3D spheroid models enables the identification of new therapeutic targets to develop alternative treatments and test TME-target therapies. In this mini review, we present the advances in mimicking tumor heterogeneity in 3D CRC spheroid models by incorporating CAFs, ECs, immune cells, and gut bacteria. We introduce how, in these models, the diverse cells influence chemoresistance and tumor progression of the CRC spheroids. We also highlight important parameters evaluated during drug screening in the CRC heterocellular spheroids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Ning Nicolette Yau
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Giulia Adriani
- Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
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7
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Kutle I, Polten R, Hachenberg J, Klapdor R, Morgan M, Schambach A. Tumor Organoid and Spheroid Models for Cervical Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15092518. [PMID: 37173984 PMCID: PMC10177622 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15092518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Revised: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Cervical cancer is one of the most common malignant diseases in women worldwide. Despite the global introduction of a preventive vaccine against the leading cause of cervical cancer, human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, the incidence of this malignant disease is still very high, especially in economically challenged areas. New advances in cancer therapy, especially the rapid development and application of different immunotherapy strategies, have shown promising pre-clinical and clinical results. However, mortality from advanced stages of cervical cancer remains a significant concern. Precise and thorough evaluation of potential novel anti-cancer therapies in pre-clinical phases is indispensable for efficient development of new, more successful treatment options for cancer patients. Recently, 3D tumor models have become the gold standard in pre-clinical cancer research due to their capacity to better mimic the architecture and microenvironment of tumor tissue as compared to standard two-dimensional (2D) cell cultures. This review will focus on the application of spheroids and patient-derived organoids (PDOs) as tumor models to develop novel therapies against cervical cancer, with an emphasis on the immunotherapies that specifically target cancer cells and modulate the tumor microenvironment (TME).
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivana Kutle
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Robert Polten
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Jens Hachenberg
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Rüdiger Klapdor
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Michael Morgan
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Axel Schambach
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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8
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Zhou L, Liu L, Chang MA, Ma C, Chen W, Chen P. Spatiotemporal dissection of tumor microenvironment via in situ sensing and monitoring in tumor-on-a-chip. Biosens Bioelectron 2023; 225:115064. [PMID: 36680970 PMCID: PMC9918721 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2023.115064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2022] [Revised: 12/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Real-time monitoring in the tumor microenvironment provides critical insights of cancer progression and mechanistic understanding of responses to cancer treatments. However, clinical challenges and significant questions remain regarding assessment of limited clinical tissue samples, establishment of validated, controllable pre-clinical cancer models, monitoring of static versus dynamic markers, and the translation of insights gained from in vitro tumor microenvironments to systematic investigation and understanding in clinical practice. State-of-art tumor-on-a-chip strategies will be reviewed herein, and emerging real-time sensing and monitoring platforms for on-chip analysis of tumor microenvironment will also be examined. The integration of the sensors with tumor-on-a-chip platforms to provide spatiotemporal information of the tumor microenvironment and the associated challenges will be further evaluated. Though optimal integrated systems for in situ monitoring are still in evolution, great promises lie ahead that will open new paradigm for rapid, comprehensive analysis of cancer development and assist clinicians with powerful tools to guide the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment course in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lang Zhou
- Materials Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, 36849, USA
| | - Lunan Liu
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, New York University, Brooklyn, NY, 11201, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, New York University, Brooklyn, NY, 11201, USA
| | - Muammar Ali Chang
- Materials Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, 36849, USA
| | - Chao Ma
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, New York University, Brooklyn, NY, 11201, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, New York University, Brooklyn, NY, 11201, USA
| | - Weiqiang Chen
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, New York University, Brooklyn, NY, 11201, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, New York University, Brooklyn, NY, 11201, USA
| | - Pengyu Chen
- Materials Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, 36849, USA.
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9
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Abstract
The angiogenesis process was described in its basic concepts in the works of the Scottish surgeon John Hunter and terminologically assessed in the early twentieth century. An aberrant angiogenesis is a prerequisite for cancer cells in solid tumors to grow and metastasize. The sprouting of new blood vessels is one of the major characteristics of cancer and represents a gateway for tumor cells to enter both the blood and lymphatic circulation systems. In vivo, ex vivo, and in vitro models of angiogenesis have provided essential tools for cancer research and antiangiogenic drug screening. Several in vivo studies have been performed to investigate the various steps of tumor angiogenesis and in vitro experiments contributed to dissecting the molecular bases of this phenomenon. Moreover, coculture of cancer and endothelial cells in 2D and 3D matrices have contributed to improve the recapitulation of the complex process of tumor angiogenesis, including the peculiar conditions of tumor microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gianfranco Natale
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
- Museum of Human Anatomy "Filippo Civinini", School of Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Guido Bocci
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
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Munn LL, Bazou D. A Self-Assembly Method for Creating Vascularized Tumor Explants Using Biomaterials for 3D Culture. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2645:211-220. [PMID: 37202621 PMCID: PMC11110101 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3056-3_12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Validation of potential therapeutic targets in cancer requires functional live assays that recapitulate the biology, anatomy, and physiology of human tumors. We present a methodology for maintaining mouse and patient tumor samples ex vivo for in vitro drug-screening as well as for the guidance of patient-specific chemotherapies. The harvested tumor biopsy, excised from mice or patients, is integrated into a support tissue that includes extended stroma and vasculature. The methodology is more representative than tissue culture assays, faster than patient-derived xenograft models, easy to implement, amenable to high-throughput assays and does not carry the ethical issues or expense associated with animal studies. Our physiologically relevant model can be successfully used for high-throughput drug screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lance L Munn
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratory, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Despina Bazou
- Department of Haematology, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
- School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland.
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11
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Nashimoto Y, Mukomoto R, Imaizumi T, Terai T, Shishido S, Ino K, Yokokawa R, Miura T, Onuma K, Inoue M, Shiku H. Electrochemical sensing of oxygen metabolism for a three-dimensional cultured model with biomimetic vascular flow. Biosens Bioelectron 2023; 219:114808. [PMID: 36327566 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2022.114808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Revised: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Microphysiological systems (MPSs) with three-dimensional (3D) cultured models have attracted considerable interest because of their potential to mimic human health and disease conditions. Recent MPSs have shown significant advancements in engineering perfusable vascular networks integrated with 3D culture models, realizing a more physiological environment in vitro; however, a sensing system that can monitor their activity under biomimetic vascular flow is lacking. We designed an open-top microfluidic device with sensor capabilities and demonstrated its application in analyzing oxygen metabolism in vascularized 3D tissue models. We first validated the platform by using human lung fibroblast (hLF) spheroids. Then, we applied the platform to a patient-derived cancer organoid and evaluated the changes in oxygen metabolism during drug administration through the vascular network. We found that the platform could integrate a perfusable vascular network with 3D cultured cells, and the electrochemical sensor could detect the change in oxygen metabolism in a quantitative, non-invasive, and real-time manner. This platform would become a monitoring system for 3D cultured cells integrated with a perfusable vascular network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuji Nashimoto
- Frontier Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Sciences (FRIS), Tohoku University, Miyagi, 980-8578, Japan; Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University, Miyagi, 980-8579, Japan; Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Tohoku University, Miyagi, 980-8579, Japan.
| | - Rei Mukomoto
- Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Tohoku University, Miyagi, 980-8579, Japan
| | - Takuto Imaizumi
- Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Tohoku University, Miyagi, 980-8579, Japan
| | - Takato Terai
- Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Tohoku University, Miyagi, 980-8579, Japan
| | - Shotaro Shishido
- Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Tohoku University, Miyagi, 980-8579, Japan
| | - Kosuke Ino
- Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University, Miyagi, 980-8579, Japan
| | - Ryuji Yokokawa
- Department of Micro Engineering, Kyoto University, Kyoto, 615-8540, Japan
| | - Takashi Miura
- Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan
| | - Kunishige Onuma
- Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8501, Japan
| | - Masahiro Inoue
- Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8501, Japan
| | - Hitoshi Shiku
- Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University, Miyagi, 980-8579, Japan; Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Tohoku University, Miyagi, 980-8579, Japan.
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12
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Dey M, Kim MH, Dogan M, Nagamine M, Kozhaya L, Celik N, Unutmaz D, Ozbolat IT. Chemotherapeutics and CAR-T Cell-Based Immunotherapeutics Screening on a 3D Bioprinted Vascularized Breast Tumor Model. ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS 2022; 32:2203966. [PMID: 38938621 PMCID: PMC11209929 DOI: 10.1002/adfm.202203966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/29/2024]
Abstract
Despite substantial advancements in development of cancer treatments, lack of standardized and physiologically-relevant in vitro testing platforms limit the early screening of anticancer agents. A major barrier is the complex interplay between the tumor microenvironment and immune response. To tackle this, a dynamic-flow based 3D bioprinted multi-scale vascularized breast tumor model, responding to chemo and immunotherapeutics is developed. Heterotypic tumors are precisely bioprinted at pre-defined distances from a perfused vasculature, exhibit tumor angiogenesis and cancer cell invasion into the perfused vasculature. Bioprinted tumors treated with varying dosages of doxorubicin for 72 h portray a dose-dependent drug response behavior. More importantly, a cell based immune therapy approach is explored by perfusing HER2-targeting chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) modified CD8+ T cells for 24 or 72 h. Extensive CAR-T cell recruitment to the endothelium, substantial T cell activation and infiltration to the tumor site, resulted in up to ≈70% reduction in tumor volumes. The presented platform paves the way for a robust, precisely fabricated, and physiologically-relevant tumor model for future translation of anti-cancer therapies to personalized medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madhuri Dey
- Department of Chemistry, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA; The Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Myoung Hwan Kim
- The Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA; Biomedical Engineering Department, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Mikail Dogan
- The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, Farmington, CT 06032, USA
| | - Momoka Nagamine
- Department of Chemistry, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA; The Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Lina Kozhaya
- The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, Farmington, CT 06032, USA
| | - Nazmiye Celik
- The Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA; Engineering Science and Mechanics Department, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Derya Unutmaz
- The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, Farmington, CT 06032, USA; University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT 06032, USA
| | - Ibrahim T Ozbolat
- The Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA; Biomedical Engineering Department, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA; Engineering Science and Mechanics Department, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA; Materials Research Institute, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA; Cancer Institute, Penn State University, Hershey, PA 17033, USA; Neurosurgery Department, Penn State University, Hershey, PA 17033, USA; Department of Medical Oncology, Cukurova University, Adana 01330, Turkey
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13
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Curtis MB, Kelly N, Hughes CCW, George SC. Organotypic stromal cells impact endothelial cell transcriptome in 3D microvessel networks. Sci Rep 2022; 12:20434. [PMID: 36443378 PMCID: PMC9705391 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-24013-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Endothelial cells line all major blood vessels and serve as integral regulators of many functions including vessel diameter, cellular trafficking, and transport of soluble mediators. Despite similar functions, the phenotype of endothelial cells is highly organ-specific, yet our understanding of the mechanisms leading to organ-level differentiation is incomplete. We generated 3D microvessel networks by combining a common naïve endothelial cell with six different stromal cells derived from the lung, skin, heart, bone marrow, pancreas, and pancreatic cancer. Single cell RNA-Seq analysis of the microvessel networks reveals five distinct endothelial cell populations, for which the relative proportion depends on the stromal cell population. Morphologic features of the organotypic vessel networks inversely correlate with a cluster of endothelial cells associated with protein synthesis. The organotypic stromal cells were each characterized by a unique subpopulation of cells dedicated to extracellular matrix organization and assembly. Finally, compared to cells in 2D monolayer, the endothelial cell transcriptome from the 3D in vitro heart, skin, lung, and pancreas microvessel networks are more similar to the in vivo endothelial cells from the respective organs. We conclude that stromal cells contribute to endothelial cell and microvessel network organ tropism, and create an endothelial cell phenotype that more closely resembles that present in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew B Curtis
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Davis, 451 E. Health Sciences Drive, Room 2315, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Natalie Kelly
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Davis, 451 E. Health Sciences Drive, Room 2315, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Christopher C W Hughes
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Steven C George
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Davis, 451 E. Health Sciences Drive, Room 2315, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.
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14
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Liu X, Su Q, Zhang X, Yang W, Ning J, Jia K, Xin J, Li H, Yu L, Liao Y, Zhang D. Recent Advances of Organ-on-a-Chip in Cancer Modeling Research. BIOSENSORS 2022; 12:bios12111045. [PMID: 36421163 PMCID: PMC9688857 DOI: 10.3390/bios12111045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Revised: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Although many studies have focused on oncology and therapeutics in cancer, cancer remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Due to the unclear molecular mechanism and complex in vivo microenvironment of tumors, it is challenging to reveal the nature of cancer and develop effective therapeutics. Therefore, the development of new methods to explore the role of heterogeneous TME in individual patients' cancer drug response is urgently needed and critical for the effective therapeutic management of cancer. The organ-on-chip (OoC) platform, which integrates the technology of 3D cell culture, tissue engineering, and microfluidics, is emerging as a new method to simulate the critical structures of the in vivo tumor microenvironment and functional characteristics. It overcomes the failure of traditional 2D/3D cell culture models and preclinical animal models to completely replicate the complex TME of human tumors. As a brand-new technology, OoC is of great significance for the realization of personalized treatment and the development of new drugs. This review discusses the recent advances of OoC in cancer biology studies. It focuses on the design principles of OoC devices and associated applications in cancer modeling. The challenges for the future development of this field are also summarized in this review. This review displays the broad applications of OoC technique and has reference value for oncology development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingxing Liu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Industrial Surfactant, Institute of Chemical Engineering, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510075, China
| | - Qiuping Su
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Industrial Surfactant, Institute of Chemical Engineering, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510075, China
| | - Xiaoyu Zhang
- Research Center for Intelligent Sensing Systems, Zhejiang Laboratory, Hangzhou 311100, China
| | - Wenjian Yang
- Research Center for Intelligent Sensing Systems, Zhejiang Laboratory, Hangzhou 311100, China
| | - Junhua Ning
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Industrial Surfactant, Institute of Chemical Engineering, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510075, China
| | - Kangle Jia
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Industrial Surfactant, Institute of Chemical Engineering, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510075, China
| | - Jinlan Xin
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Industrial Surfactant, Institute of Chemical Engineering, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510075, China
| | - Huanling Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Industrial Surfactant, Institute of Chemical Engineering, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510075, China
| | - Longfei Yu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Industrial Surfactant, Institute of Chemical Engineering, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510075, China
| | - Yuheng Liao
- Research Center for Intelligent Sensing Systems, Zhejiang Laboratory, Hangzhou 311100, China
| | - Diming Zhang
- Research Center for Intelligent Sensing Systems, Zhejiang Laboratory, Hangzhou 311100, China
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15
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3D microengineered vascularized tumor spheroids for drug delivery and efficacy testing. Acta Biomater 2022:S1742-7061(22)00665-1. [DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2022.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2022] [Revised: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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16
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Ning L, Shim J, Tomov ML, Liu R, Mehta R, Mingee A, Hwang B, Jin L, Mantalaris A, Xu C, Mahmoudi M, Goldsmith KC, Serpooshan V. A 3D Bioprinted in vitro Model of Neuroblastoma Recapitulates Dynamic Tumor-Endothelial Cell Interactions Contributing to Solid Tumor Aggressive Behavior. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2022; 9:e2200244. [PMID: 35644929 PMCID: PMC9376856 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202200244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2022] [Revised: 05/02/2022] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Neuroblastoma (NB) is the most common extracranial tumor in children resulting in substantial morbidity and mortality. A deeper understanding of the NB tumor microenvironment (TME) remains an area of active research but there is a lack of reliable and biomimetic experimental models. This study utilizes a 3D bioprinting approach, in combination with NB spheroids, to create an in vitro vascular model of NB for exploring the tumor function within an endothelialized microenvironment. A gelatin methacryloyl (gelMA) bioink is used to create multi-channel cubic tumor analogues with high printing fidelity and mechanical tunability. Human-derived NB spheroids and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) are incorporated into the biomanufactured gelMA and cocultured under static versus dynamic conditions, demonstrating high levels of survival and growth. Quantification of NB-EC integration and tumor cell migration suggested an increased aggressive behavior of NB when cultured in bioprinted endothelialized models, when cocultured with HUVECs, and also as a result of dynamic culture. This model also allowed for the assessment of metabolic, cytokine, and gene expression profiles of NB spheroids under varying TME conditions. These results establish a high throughput research enabling platform to study the TME-mediated cellular-molecular mechanisms of tumor growth, aggression, and response to therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liqun Ning
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical EngineeringEmory University School of Medicine and Georgia Institute of TechnologyAtlantaGA30332USA
| | - Jenny Shim
- Department of PediatricsEmory University School of MedicineAtlantaGA30322USA
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders CenterChildren's Healthcare of AtlantaAtlantaGA30342USA
- Children's Healthcare of AtlantaAtlantaGA30322USA
| | - Martin L. Tomov
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical EngineeringEmory University School of Medicine and Georgia Institute of TechnologyAtlantaGA30332USA
| | - Rui Liu
- Department of PediatricsEmory University School of MedicineAtlantaGA30322USA
| | - Riya Mehta
- Department of BiologyEmory UniversityAtlantaGA30322USA
| | - Andrew Mingee
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical EngineeringEmory University School of Medicine and Georgia Institute of TechnologyAtlantaGA30332USA
| | - Boeun Hwang
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical EngineeringEmory University School of Medicine and Georgia Institute of TechnologyAtlantaGA30332USA
| | - Linqi Jin
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical EngineeringEmory University School of Medicine and Georgia Institute of TechnologyAtlantaGA30332USA
| | - Athanasios Mantalaris
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical EngineeringEmory University School of Medicine and Georgia Institute of TechnologyAtlantaGA30332USA
| | - Chunhui Xu
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical EngineeringEmory University School of Medicine and Georgia Institute of TechnologyAtlantaGA30332USA
- Department of PediatricsEmory University School of MedicineAtlantaGA30322USA
| | - Morteza Mahmoudi
- Department of Radiology and Precision Health ProgramMichigan State UniversityEast LansingMI48824USA
| | - Kelly C. Goldsmith
- Department of PediatricsEmory University School of MedicineAtlantaGA30322USA
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders CenterChildren's Healthcare of AtlantaAtlantaGA30342USA
- Children's Healthcare of AtlantaAtlantaGA30322USA
| | - Vahid Serpooshan
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical EngineeringEmory University School of Medicine and Georgia Institute of TechnologyAtlantaGA30332USA
- Department of PediatricsEmory University School of MedicineAtlantaGA30322USA
- Children's Healthcare of AtlantaAtlantaGA30322USA
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17
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Li Q, Niu K, Wang D, Xuan L, Wang X. Low-cost rapid prototyping and assembly of an open microfluidic device for a 3D vascularized organ-on-a-chip. LAB ON A CHIP 2022; 22:2682-2694. [PMID: 34581377 DOI: 10.1039/d1lc00767j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Reconstruction of 3D vascularized microtissues within microfabricated devices has rapidly developed in biomedical engineering, which can better mimic the tissue microphysiological function and accurately model human diseases in vitro. However, the traditional PDMS-based microfluidic devices suffer from the microfabrication with complex processes and usage limitations of either material properties or microstructure design, which drive the demand for easy processing and more accessible devices with a user-friendly interface. Here, we present an open microfluidic device through a rapid prototyping method by laser cutting in a cost-effective manner with high flexibility and compatibility. This device allows highly efficient and robust hydrogel patterning under a liquid guiding rail by spontaneous capillary action without the need for surface treatment. Different vascularization mechanisms including vasculogenesis and angiogenesis were performed to construct a 3D perfusable microvasculature inside a tissue chamber with various shapes under different microenvironment factors. Furthermore, as a proof-of-concept we have created a vascularized spheroid by placing a monoculture spheroid into the central through-hole of this device, which formed angiogenesis between the spheroid and microvascular network. This open microfluidic device has great potential for mass customization without the need for complex microfabrication equipment in the cleanroom, which can facilitate studies requiring high-throughput and high-content screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qinyu Li
- Department of Micro/Nano Electronics, School of Electronic Information and Electrical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, P. R. China.
| | - Kai Niu
- Department of Micro/Nano Electronics, School of Electronic Information and Electrical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, P. R. China.
| | - Ding Wang
- Department of Micro/Nano Electronics, School of Electronic Information and Electrical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, P. R. China.
| | - Lian Xuan
- Institute of Medical Robotics, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaolin Wang
- Department of Micro/Nano Electronics, School of Electronic Information and Electrical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, P. R. China.
- Institute of Medical Robotics, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, People's Republic of China
- National Key Laboratory of Science and Technology on Micro/Nano Fabrication, Department of Micro/Nano Electronics, School of Electronic Information and Electrical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, People's Republic of China
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18
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Galateanu B, Hudita A, Biru EI, Iovu H, Zaharia C, Simsensohn E, Costache M, Petca RC, Jinga V. Applications of Polymers for Organ-on-Chip Technology in Urology. Polymers (Basel) 2022; 14:1668. [PMID: 35566836 PMCID: PMC9105302 DOI: 10.3390/polym14091668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2022] [Revised: 04/05/2022] [Accepted: 04/18/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Organ-on-chips (OOCs) are microfluidic devices used for creating physiological organ biomimetic systems. OOC technology brings numerous advantages in the current landscape of preclinical models, capable of recapitulating the multicellular assemblage, tissue-tissue interaction, and replicating numerous human pathologies. Moreover, in cancer research, OOCs emulate the 3D hierarchical complexity of in vivo tumors and mimic the tumor microenvironment, being a practical cost-efficient solution for tumor-growth investigation and anticancer drug screening. OOCs are compact and easy-to-use microphysiological functional units that recapitulate the native function and the mechanical strain that the cells experience in the human bodies, allowing the development of a wide range of applications such as disease modeling or even the development of diagnostic devices. In this context, the current work aims to review the scientific literature in the field of microfluidic devices designed for urology applications in terms of OOC fabrication (principles of manufacture and materials used), development of kidney-on-chip models for drug-toxicity screening and kidney tumors modeling, bladder-on-chip models for urinary tract infections and bladder cancer modeling and prostate-on-chip models for prostate cancer modeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bianca Galateanu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Bucharest, 91-95 Splaiul Independentei Street, 050095 Bucharest, Romania; (B.G.); (M.C.)
| | - Ariana Hudita
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Bucharest, 91-95 Splaiul Independentei Street, 050095 Bucharest, Romania; (B.G.); (M.C.)
| | - Elena Iuliana Biru
- Advanced Polymer Materials Group, Department of Bioresources and Polymer Science, University Politehnica of Bucharest, 1-7 Gh. Polizu Street, 011061 Bucharest, Romania; (H.I.); (C.Z.)
| | - Horia Iovu
- Advanced Polymer Materials Group, Department of Bioresources and Polymer Science, University Politehnica of Bucharest, 1-7 Gh. Polizu Street, 011061 Bucharest, Romania; (H.I.); (C.Z.)
- Academy of Romanian Scientists, Ilfov Street, 50044 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Catalin Zaharia
- Advanced Polymer Materials Group, Department of Bioresources and Polymer Science, University Politehnica of Bucharest, 1-7 Gh. Polizu Street, 011061 Bucharest, Romania; (H.I.); (C.Z.)
| | - Eliza Simsensohn
- “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Bucharest, 050474 Bucharest, Romania; (E.S.); (R.-C.P.); (V.J.)
| | - Marieta Costache
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Bucharest, 91-95 Splaiul Independentei Street, 050095 Bucharest, Romania; (B.G.); (M.C.)
| | - Razvan-Cosmin Petca
- “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Bucharest, 050474 Bucharest, Romania; (E.S.); (R.-C.P.); (V.J.)
| | - Viorel Jinga
- “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Bucharest, 050474 Bucharest, Romania; (E.S.); (R.-C.P.); (V.J.)
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19
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Rodoplu D, Matahum JS, Hsu CH. A microfluidic hanging drop-based spheroid co-culture platform for probing tumor angiogenesis. LAB ON A CHIP 2022; 22:1275-1285. [PMID: 35191460 DOI: 10.1039/d1lc01177d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Co-culturing of embryoid bodies (EBs) and tumor spheroids (TSs) allows mimicking tumor angiogenesis in vitro. Here, we report a microfluidic hanging drop-based spheroid co-culture device (μ-CCD) that permits the generation and co-culturing of EBs and TSs using a simple manual operation procedure and setup. In brief, uniform-sized EBs and TSs can be generated on the device in eight pairs of hanging droplets from adjacent microfluidic channels, followed by the confrontation of EB and TS pairs by merging the droplet pairs to culture the EB-TS spheroids to investigate tumor-induced angiogenic sprouting. The physical parameters of the device were optimized to maintain the long-term stability of hanging droplets for up to ten days. The mouse embryonic stem cell line ES-D3 and breast cancer cell lines MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 were used to generate EBs, invasive TSs, and non-invasive TSs respectively. Confocal imaging results showed that the vessel percentage area and total vessel length which are linked to tumor angiogenesis increased after 6 days of co-culturing. An anti-angiogenesis drug testing on the co-cultured EB-TS spheroids was also demonstrated in the device. The μ-CCD provides a simple yet high-efficiency method to generate and co-culture cell spheroids and may also be useful for other applications involving spheroid co-culturing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Didem Rodoplu
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Nanomedicine, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, Miaoli, 35053, Taiwan.
| | - Jefunnie Sierra Matahum
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Nanomedicine, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, Miaoli, 35053, Taiwan.
| | - Chia-Hsien Hsu
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Nanomedicine, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, Miaoli, 35053, Taiwan.
- Institute of Nanoengineering and Microsystems, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan
- Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 40227, Taiwan
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20
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Kim D, Hwang KS, Seo EU, Seo S, Lee BC, Choi N, Choi J, Kim HN. Vascularized Lung Cancer Model for Evaluating the Promoted Transport of Anticancer Drugs and Immune Cells in an Engineered Tumor Microenvironment. Adv Healthc Mater 2022; 11:e2102581. [PMID: 35286780 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202102581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2021] [Revised: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment (TME) is the environment around the tumor, including blood vessels, immune cells, fibroblasts, signaling molecules, and the extracellular matrix (ECM). Owing to its component interactions, the TME influences tumor growth and drug delivery in a highly complex manner. Although several vascularized cancer models are developed to mimic the TME in vitro, these models cannot comprehensively reflect blood vessel-tumor spheroid interactions. Here, a method for inducing controlled tumor angiogenesis by engineering the microenvironment is presented. The interstitial flow direction regulates the direction of capillary sprouting, showing that angiogenesis occurs in the opposite direction of flow, while the existence of lung fibroblasts affects the continuity and lumen formation of sprouted capillaries. The vascularized tumor model shows enhanced delivery of anticancer drugs and immune cells to the tumor spheroids because of the perfusable vascular networks. The possibility of capillary embolism using anticancer drug-conjugated liquid metal nanoparticles is investigated using the vascularized tumor model. This vascularized tumor platform can aid in the development of effective anticancer drugs and cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dasom Kim
- Brain Science Institute Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) Seoul 02792 Republic of Korea
| | - Kyeong Seob Hwang
- Brain Science Institute Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) Seoul 02792 Republic of Korea
- School of Mechanical Engineering Yonsei University Seoul 03722 Republic of Korea
| | - Eun U Seo
- Brain Science Institute Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) Seoul 02792 Republic of Korea
- Division of Bio‐Medical Science and Technology KIST School Korea University of Science and Technology (UST) Seoul 02792 Republic of Korea
| | - Suyeong Seo
- Brain Science Institute Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) Seoul 02792 Republic of Korea
- Program in Nano Science and Technology Graduate School of Convergence Science and Technology Seoul National University Seoul 08826 Republic of Korea
| | - Byung Chul Lee
- Brain Science Institute Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) Seoul 02792 Republic of Korea
- Division of Bio‐Medical Science and Technology KIST School Korea University of Science and Technology (UST) Seoul 02792 Republic of Korea
| | - Nakwon Choi
- Brain Science Institute Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) Seoul 02792 Republic of Korea
- Division of Bio‐Medical Science and Technology KIST School Korea University of Science and Technology (UST) Seoul 02792 Republic of Korea
- KU‐KIST Graduate School of Converging Science and Technology Korea University Seoul 02841 Republic of Korea
| | - Jonghoon Choi
- School of Integrative Engineering Chung‐Ang University Seoul 06974 Republic of Korea
| | - Hong Nam Kim
- Brain Science Institute Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) Seoul 02792 Republic of Korea
- School of Mechanical Engineering Yonsei University Seoul 03722 Republic of Korea
- Division of Bio‐Medical Science and Technology KIST School Korea University of Science and Technology (UST) Seoul 02792 Republic of Korea
- Yonsei‐KIST Convergence Research Institute Yonsei University Seoul 03722 Republic of Korea
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21
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Beshay PE, Cortes-Medina MG, Menyhert MM, Song JW. The biophysics of cancer: emerging insights from micro- and nanoscale tools. ADVANCED NANOBIOMED RESEARCH 2022; 2:2100056. [PMID: 35156093 PMCID: PMC8827905 DOI: 10.1002/anbr.202100056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer is a complex and dynamic disease that is aberrant both biologically and physically. There is growing appreciation that physical abnormalities with both cancer cells and their microenvironment that span multiple length scales are important drivers for cancer growth and metastasis. The scope of this review is to highlight the key advancements in micro- and nano-scale tools for delineating the cause and consequences of the aberrant physical properties of tumors. We focus our review on three important physical aspects of cancer: 1) solid mechanical properties, 2) fluid mechanical properties, and 3) mechanical alterations to cancer cells. Beyond posing physical barriers to the delivery of cancer therapeutics, these properties are also known to influence numerous biological processes, including cancer cell invasion and migration leading to metastasis, and response and resistance to therapy. We comment on how micro- and nanoscale tools have transformed our fundamental understanding of the physical dynamics of cancer progression and their potential for bridging towards future applications at the interface of oncology and physical sciences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter E Beshay
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210
| | | | - Miles M Menyhert
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210
| | - Jonathan W Song
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210
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22
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Samanipour R, Tahmooressi H, Rezaei Nejad H, Hirano M, Shin SR, Hoorfar M. A review on 3D printing functional brain model. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2022; 16:011501. [PMID: 35145569 PMCID: PMC8816519 DOI: 10.1063/5.0074631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2021] [Accepted: 12/31/2021] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Modern neuroscience increasingly relies on 3D models to study neural circuitry, nerve regeneration, and neural disease. Several different biofabrication approaches have been explored to create 3D neural tissue model structures. Among them, 3D bioprinting has shown to have great potential to emerge as a high-throughput/high precision biofabrication strategy that can address the growing need for 3D neural models. Here, we have reviewed the design principles for neural tissue engineering. The main challenge to adapt printing technologies for biofabrication of neural tissue models is the development of neural bioink, i.e., a biomaterial with printability and gelation properties and also suitable for neural tissue culture. This review shines light on a vast range of biomaterials as well as the fundamentals of 3D neural tissue printing. Also, advances in 3D bioprinting technologies are reviewed especially for bioprinted neural models. Finally, the techniques used to evaluate the fabricated 2D and 3D neural models are discussed and compared in terms of feasibility and functionality.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hamed Tahmooressi
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, British Columbia V1V 1V7, Canada
| | - Hojatollah Rezaei Nejad
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Tufts University, 161 College Avenue, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, USA
| | | | - Su-Royn Shin
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02139, USA
- Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed: and
| | - Mina Hoorfar
- Faculty of Engineering, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia V8W 2Y2, Canada
- Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed: and
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23
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Vakhrushev IV, Nezhurina EK, Karalkin PA, Tsvetkova AV, Sergeeva NS, Majouga AG, Yarygin KN. Heterotypic Multicellular Spheroids as Experimental and Preclinical Models of Sprouting Angiogenesis. BIOLOGY 2021; 11:18. [PMID: 35053016 PMCID: PMC8772844 DOI: 10.3390/biology11010018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2021] [Revised: 12/18/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Sprouting angiogenesis is the common response of live tissues to physiological and pathological angiogenic stimuli. Its accurate evaluation is of utmost importance for basic research and practical medicine and pharmacology and requires adequate experimental models. A variety of assays for angiogenesis were developed, none of them perfect. In vitro approaches are generally less physiologically relevant due to the omission of essential components regulating the process. However, only in vitro models can be entirely non-xenogeneic. The limitations of the in vitro angiogenesis assays can be partially overcome using 3D models mimicking tissue O2 and nutrient gradients, the influence of the extracellular matrix (ECM), and enabling cell-cell interactions. Here we present a review of the existing models of sprouting angiogenesis that are based on the use of endothelial cells (ECs) co-cultured with perivascular or other stromal cells. This approach provides an excellent in vitro platform for further decoding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms of sprouting angiogenesis under conditions close to the in vivo conditions, as well as for preclinical drug testing and preclinical research in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Igor V. Vakhrushev
- Laboratory of Cell Biology, Institute of Biomedical Chemistry, 119121 Moscow, Russia;
| | - Elizaveta K. Nezhurina
- P.A. Hertsen Moscow Oncology Research Center, National Medical Research Radiological Center, 125284 Moscow, Russia;
| | - Pavel A. Karalkin
- Institute for Cluster Oncology, Sechenov University, 119435 Moscow, Russia;
| | | | - Nataliya S. Sergeeva
- Department of Biology, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, 117997 Moscow, Russia;
| | - Alexander G. Majouga
- Faculty of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Technologies and Biomedical Products, D. Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology of Russia, 125047 Moscow, Russia;
| | - Konstantin N. Yarygin
- Laboratory of Cell Biology, Institute of Biomedical Chemistry, 119121 Moscow, Russia;
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Wu Y, Zhou Y, Qin X, Liu Y. From cell spheroids to vascularized cancer organoids: Microfluidic tumor-on-a-chip models for preclinical drug evaluations. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2021; 15:061503. [PMID: 34804315 PMCID: PMC8589468 DOI: 10.1063/5.0062697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Accepted: 10/16/2021] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Chemotherapy is one of the most effective cancer treatments. Starting from the discovery of new molecular entities, it usually takes about 10 years and 2 billion U.S. dollars to bring an effective anti-cancer drug from the benchtop to patients. Due to the physiological differences between animal models and humans, more than 90% of drug candidates failed in phase I clinical trials. Thus, a more efficient drug screening system to identify feasible compounds and pre-exclude less promising drug candidates is strongly desired. For their capability to accurately construct in vitro tumor models derived from human cells to reproduce pathological and physiological processes, microfluidic tumor chips are reliable platforms for preclinical drug screening, personalized medicine, and fundamental oncology research. This review summarizes the recent progress of the microfluidic tumor chip and highlights tumor vascularization strategies. In addition, promising imaging modalities for enhancing data acquisition and machine learning-based image analysis methods to accurately quantify the dynamics of tumor spheroids are introduced. It is believed that the microfluidic tumor chip will serve as a high-throughput, biomimetic, and multi-sensor integrated system for efficient preclinical drug evaluation in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Wu
- Department of Bioengineering, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18015, USA
| | - Yuyuan Zhou
- Department of Bioengineering, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18015, USA
| | - Xiaochen Qin
- Department of Bioengineering, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18015, USA
| | - Yaling Liu
- Author to whom correspondence should be addressed:
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Isolating and characterizing lymphatic endothelial progenitor cells for potential therapeutic lymphangiogenic applications. Acta Biomater 2021; 135:191-202. [PMID: 34384911 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2021.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2021] [Revised: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 08/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Lymphatic dysfunction is associated with the progression of several vascular disorders, though currently, there are limited strategies to promote new lymphatic vasculature (i.e., lymphangiogenesis) to restore lost lymphatic function. One promising approach to stimulate lymphangiogenesis involves delivering endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), which are naturally involved in de novo blood vessel formation and have recently been identified to include a lymphatic subpopulation. However, the contribution of lymphatic EPCs in lymphangiogenesis is not clear and challenges with maintaining the activity of transplanted EPCs remain. Thus, the objective of this study was to isolate lymphatic EPCs from human umbilical cord blood and characterize their role in the initial stages of blood or lymphatic vasculature formation. Furthermore, this study also tested the applicability of alginate hydrogels to deliver lymphatic EPCs for a possible therapeutic application. We postulated and confirmed that blood and lymphatic EPC colonies could be isolated from human umbilical cord blood. Additionally, EPC populations responded to either angiogenic or lymphangiogenic growth factors and could stimulate their respective mature endothelial cells in vasculature models in vitro. Finally, lymphatic EPCs maintained their ability to promote lymphatic sprouts after prolonged interactions with the alginate hydrogel microenvironment. These results suggest EPCs have both a blood and a lymphatic population that have specific roles in promoting revascularization and highlight the potential of alginate hydrogels for the delivery of lymphatic EPCs. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Despite the potential therapeutic benefit of promoting lymphatic vasculature, lymphangiogenesis remains understudied. One appealing strategy for promoting lymphangiogenesis involves delivering lymphatic endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), which are a subpopulation of EPCs involved in de novo vessel formation. Here, we investigate the role of isolated blood and lymphatic EPC subpopulations in promoting the early stages of vascularization and the utility of alginate hydrogels to deliver lymphatic EPCs. We determined that EPCs had two populations that expressed either blood or lymphatic markers, could stimulate their respective mature vasculature in tissue constructs and that alginate hydrogels maintained the therapeutic potential of lymphatic EPCs. We anticipate this work could support promising biomaterial applications of EPCs to promote revascularization, which could have many therapeutic applications.
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Bhat SM, Badiger VA, Vasishta S, Chakraborty J, Prasad S, Ghosh S, Joshi MB. 3D tumor angiogenesis models: recent advances and challenges. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2021; 147:3477-3494. [PMID: 34613483 PMCID: PMC8557138 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-021-03814-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
The development of blood vessels, referred to as angiogenesis, is an intricate process regulated spatially and temporally through a delicate balance between the qualitative and quantitative expression of pro and anti-angiogenic molecules. As angiogenesis is a prerequisite for solid tumors to grow and metastasize, a variety of tumor angiogenesis models have been formulated to better understand the underlying mechanisms and associated clinical applications. Studies have demonstrated independent mechanisms inducing angiogenesis in tumors such as (a) HIF-1/VEGF mediated paracrine interactions between a cancer cell and endothelial cells, (b) recruitment of progenitor endothelial cells, and (c) vasculogenic mimicry. Moreover, single-cell sequencing technologies have indicated endothelial cell heterogeneity among organ systems including tumor tissues. However, existing angiogenesis models often rely upon normal endothelial cells which significantly differ from tumor endothelial cells exhibiting distinct (epi)genetic and metabolic signatures. Besides, the existence of intra-individual variations necessitates the development of improved tumor vascular model systems for personalized medicine. In the present review, we summarize recent advancements of 3D tumor vascular model systems which include (a) tissue engineering-based tumor models; (b) vascular organoid models, and (c) organ-on-chips and their importance in replicating the tumor angiogenesis along with the associated challenges to design improved models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharath M Bhat
- Department of Ageing Research, Manipal School of Life Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, 576104, India
| | - Vaishnavi A Badiger
- Department of Ageing Research, Manipal School of Life Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, 576104, India
| | - Sampara Vasishta
- Department of Ageing Research, Manipal School of Life Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, 576104, India
| | - Juhi Chakraborty
- Regenerative Engineering Laboratory, Department of Textile and Fibre Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, 110016, India
| | - Seetharam Prasad
- Department of Surgery, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, 576104, India
| | - Sourabh Ghosh
- Regenerative Engineering Laboratory, Department of Textile and Fibre Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, 110016, India
| | - Manjunath B Joshi
- Department of Ageing Research, Manipal School of Life Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, 576104, India.
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Franchi-Mendes T, Eduardo R, Domenici G, Brito C. 3D Cancer Models: Depicting Cellular Crosstalk within the Tumour Microenvironment. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:4610. [PMID: 34572836 PMCID: PMC8468887 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13184610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Revised: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The tumour microenvironment plays a critical role in tumour progression and drug resistance processes. Non-malignant cell players, such as fibroblasts, endothelial cells, immune cells and others, interact with each other and with the tumour cells, shaping the disease. Though the role of each cell type and cell communication mechanisms have been progressively studied, the complexity of this cellular network and its role in disease mechanism and therapeutic response are still being unveiled. Animal models have been mainly used, as they can represent systemic interactions and conditions, though they face recognized limitations in translational potential due to interspecies differences. In vitro 3D cancer models can surpass these limitations, by incorporating human cells, including patient-derived ones, and allowing a range of experimental designs with precise control of each tumour microenvironment element. We summarize the role of each tumour microenvironment component and review studies proposing 3D co-culture strategies of tumour cells and non-malignant cell components. Moreover, we discuss the potential of these modelling approaches to uncover potential therapeutic targets in the tumour microenvironment and assess therapeutic efficacy, current bottlenecks and perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teresa Franchi-Mendes
- iBET—Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Tecnológica, Apartado 12, 2781-901 Oeiras, Portugal; (T.F.-M.); (R.E.); (G.D.)
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Av. da República, 2780-157 Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Rodrigo Eduardo
- iBET—Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Tecnológica, Apartado 12, 2781-901 Oeiras, Portugal; (T.F.-M.); (R.E.); (G.D.)
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Av. da República, 2780-157 Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Giacomo Domenici
- iBET—Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Tecnológica, Apartado 12, 2781-901 Oeiras, Portugal; (T.F.-M.); (R.E.); (G.D.)
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Av. da República, 2780-157 Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Catarina Brito
- iBET—Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Tecnológica, Apartado 12, 2781-901 Oeiras, Portugal; (T.F.-M.); (R.E.); (G.D.)
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Av. da República, 2780-157 Oeiras, Portugal
- The Discoveries Centre for Regenerative and Precision Medicine, Lisbon Campus, Av. da República, 2780-157 Oeiras, Portugal
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Engineering a Vascularized Hypoxic Tumor Model for Therapeutic Assessment. Cells 2021; 10:cells10092201. [PMID: 34571851 PMCID: PMC8468635 DOI: 10.3390/cells10092201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Revised: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 08/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Solid tumors in advanced cancer often feature a structurally and functionally abnormal vasculature through tumor angiogenesis, which contributes to cancer progression, metastasis, and therapeutic resistances. Hypoxia is considered a major driver of angiogenesis in tumor microenvironments. However, there remains a lack of in vitro models that recapitulate both the vasculature and hypoxia in the same model with physiological resemblance to the tumor microenvironment, while allowing for high-content spatiotemporal analyses for mechanistic studies and therapeutic evaluations. We have previously constructed a hypoxia microdevice that utilizes the metabolism of cancer cells to generate an oxygen gradient in the cancer cell layer as seen in solid tumor sections. Here, we have engineered a new composite microdevice-microfluidics platform that recapitulates a vascularized hypoxic tumor. Endothelial cells were seeded in a collagen channel formed by viscous fingering, to generate a rounded vascular lumen surrounding a hypoxic tumor section composed of cancer cells embedded in a 3-D hydrogel extracellular matrix. We demonstrated that the new device can be used with microscopy-based high-content analyses to track the vascular phenotypes, morphology, and sprouting into the hypoxic tumor section over a 7-day culture, as well as the response to different cancer/stromal cells. We further evaluated the integrity/leakiness of the vascular lumen in molecular delivery, and the potential of the platform to study the movement/trafficking of therapeutic immune cells. Therefore, our new platform can be used as a model for understanding tumor angiogenesis and therapeutic delivery/efficacy in vascularized hypoxic tumors.
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Mousavi N. Characterization of in vitro 3D cultures. APMIS 2021; 129 Suppl 142:1-30. [PMID: 34399444 DOI: 10.1111/apm.13168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Over the past decade, 3D culture models of human and animal cells have found their way into tissue differentiation, drug development, personalized medicine and tumour behaviour studies. Embryoid bodies (EBs) are in vitro 3D cultures established from murine pluripotential stem cells, whereas tumoroids are patient-derived in vitro 3D cultures. This thesis aims to describe a new implication of an embryoid body model and to characterize the patient-specific microenvironment of the parental tumour in relation to tumoroid growth rate. In this thesis, we described a high-throughput monitoring method, where EBs are used as a dynamic angiogenesis model. In this model, digital image analysis (DIA) is implemented on immunohistochemistry (IHC) stained sections of the cultures over time. Furthermore, we have investigated the correlation between the genetic profile and inflammatory microenvironment of parental tumours on the in vitro growth rate of tumoroids. The EBs were cultured in spinner flasks. The samples were collected at days 4, 6, 9, 14, 18 and 21, dehydrated and embedded in paraffin. The histological sections were IHC stained for the endothelial marker CD31 and digitally scanned. The virtual whole-image slides were digitally analysed by Visiopharm® software. Histological evaluation showed vascular-like structures over time. The quantitative DIA was plausible to monitor significant increase in the total area of the EBs and an increase in endothelial differentiation. The tumoroids were established from 32 colorectal adenocarcinomas. The in vitro growth rate of the tumoroids was followed by automated microscopy over an 11-day period. The parental tumours were analysed by next-generation sequencing for KRAS, TP53, PIK3CA, SMAD4, MAP2K1, BRAF, FGFR3 and FBXW7 status. The tumoroids established from KRAS-mutated parental tumours showed a significantly higher growth rate compared to their wild-type counterparts. The density of CD3+ T lymphocytes and CD68+ macrophages was calculated in the centre of the tumours and at the invasive margin of the tumours. The high density of CD3+ cells and the low density of CD68+ cells showed a significant correlation with a higher growth rate of the tumoroids. In conclusion, a novel approach for histological monitoring of endothelial differentiation is presented in the stem cell-derived EBs. Furthermore, the KRAS status and density of CD3+ T cells and macrophages in the parental tumour influence the growth rate of the tumoroids. Our results indicate that these parameters should be included when tumoroids are to be implemented in personalized medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nabi Mousavi
- Department of Pathology, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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30
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Del Piccolo N, Shirure VS, Bi Y, Goedegebuure SP, Gholami S, Hughes CC, Fields RC, George SC. Tumor-on-chip modeling of organ-specific cancer and metastasis. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2021; 175:113798. [PMID: 34015419 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2021.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2021] [Revised: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Every year, cancer claims millions of lives around the globe. Unfortunately, model systems that accurately mimic human oncology - a requirement for the development of more effective therapies for these patients - remain elusive. Tumor development is an organ-specific process that involves modification of existing tissue features, recruitment of other cell types, and eventual metastasis to distant organs. Recently, tissue engineered microfluidic devices have emerged as a powerful in vitro tool to model human physiology and pathology with organ-specificity. These organ-on-chip platforms consist of cells cultured in 3D hydrogels and offer precise control over geometry, biological components, and physiochemical properties. Here, we review progress towards organ-specific microfluidic models of the primary and metastatic tumor microenvironments. Despite the field's infancy, these tumor-on-chip models have enabled discoveries about cancer immunobiology and response to therapy. Future work should focus on the development of autologous or multi-organ systems and inclusion of the immune system.
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31
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Pozzi S, Scomparin A, Israeli Dangoor S, Rodriguez Ajamil D, Ofek P, Neufeld L, Krivitsky A, Vaskovich-Koubi D, Kleiner R, Dey P, Koshrovski-Michael S, Reisman N, Satchi-Fainaro R. Meet me halfway: Are in vitro 3D cancer models on the way to replace in vivo models for nanomedicine development? Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2021; 175:113760. [PMID: 33838208 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2021.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2021] [Revised: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 04/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The complexity and diversity of the biochemical processes that occur during tumorigenesis and metastasis are frequently over-simplified in the traditional in vitro cell cultures. Two-dimensional cultures limit researchers' experimental observations and frequently give rise to misleading and contradictory results. Therefore, in order to overcome the limitations of in vitro studies and bridge the translational gap to in vivo applications, 3D models of cancer were developed in the last decades. The three dimensions of the tumor, including its cellular and extracellular microenvironment, are recreated by combining co-cultures of cancer and stromal cells in 3D hydrogel-based growth factors-inclusive scaffolds. More complex 3D cultures, containing functional blood vasculature, can integrate in the system external stimuli (e.g. oxygen and nutrient deprivation, cytokines, growth factors) along with drugs, or other therapeutic compounds. In this scenario, cell signaling pathways, metastatic cascade steps, cell differentiation and self-renewal, tumor-microenvironment interactions, and precision and personalized medicine, are among the wide range of biological applications that can be studied. Here, we discuss a broad variety of strategies exploited by scientists to create in vitro 3D cancer models that resemble as much as possible the biology and patho-physiology of in vivo tumors and predict faithfully the treatment outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabina Pozzi
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Anna Scomparin
- Department of Drug Science and Technology, University of Turin, Via P. Giuria 9, 10125 Turin, Italy
| | - Sahar Israeli Dangoor
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Daniel Rodriguez Ajamil
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Paula Ofek
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Lena Neufeld
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Adva Krivitsky
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Daniella Vaskovich-Koubi
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Ron Kleiner
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Pradip Dey
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Shani Koshrovski-Michael
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Noa Reisman
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Ronit Satchi-Fainaro
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel; Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel.
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32
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Dey M, Ayan B, Yurieva M, Unutmaz D, Ozbolat IT. Studying Tumor Angiogenesis and Cancer Invasion in a Three-Dimensional Vascularized Breast Cancer Micro-Environment. Adv Biol (Weinh) 2021; 5:e2100090. [PMID: 33857356 PMCID: PMC8574137 DOI: 10.1002/adbi.202100090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2021] [Revised: 02/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Metastatic breast cancer is one of the deadliest forms of malignancy, primarily driven by its characteristic micro-environment comprising cancer cells interacting with stromal components. These interactions induce genetic and metabolic alterations creating a conducive environment for tumor growth. In this study, a physiologically relevant 3D vascularized breast cancer micro-environment is developed comprising of metastatic MDA-MB-231 cells and human umbilical vein endothelial cells loaded in human dermal fibroblasts laden fibrin, representing the tumor stroma. The matrix, as well as stromal cell density, impacts the transcriptional profile of genes involved in tumor angiogenesis and cancer invasion, which are hallmarks of cancer. Cancer-specific canonical pathways and activated upstream regulators are also identified by the differential gene expression signatures of these composite cultures. Additionally, a tumor-associated vascular bed of capillaries is established exhibiting dilated vessel diameters, representative of in vivo tumor physiology. Further, employing aspiration-assisted bioprinting, cancer-endothelial crosstalk, in the form of collective angiogenesis of tumor spheroids bioprinted at close proximity, is identified. Overall, this bottom-up approach of tumor micro-environment fabrication provides an insight into the potential of in vitro tumor models and enables the identification of novel therapeutic targets as a preclinical drug screening platform.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madhuri Dey
- Department of Chemistry, Penn State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
- The Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Bugra Ayan
- Engineering Science and Mechanics Department, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
- The Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Marina Yurieva
- The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine and University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT 06032, USA
| | - Derya Unutmaz
- The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine and University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT 06032, USA
| | - Ibrahim T Ozbolat
- Engineering Science and Mechanics Department, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
- The Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
- Biomedical Engineering Department, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
- Materials Research Institute, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
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Yankaskas CL, Bera K, Stoletov K, Serra SA, Carrillo-Garcia J, Tuntithavornwat S, Mistriotis P, Lewis JD, Valverde MA, Konstantopoulos K. The fluid shear stress sensor TRPM7 regulates tumor cell intravasation. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2021; 7:7/28/eabh3457. [PMID: 34244134 PMCID: PMC8270498 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abh3457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2021] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Tumor cell intravasation preferentially occurs in regions of low fluid shear because high shear is detrimental to tumor cells. Here, we describe a molecular mechanism by which cells avoid high shear during intravasation. The transition from migration to intravasation was modeled using a microfluidic device where cells migrating inside longitudinal tissue-like microchannels encounter an orthogonal channel in which fluid flow induces physiological shear stresses. This approach was complemented with intravital microscopy, patch-clamp, and signal transduction imaging techniques. Fluid shear-induced activation of the transient receptor potential melastatin 7 (TRPM7) channel promotes extracellular calcium influx, which then activates RhoA/myosin-II and calmodulin/IQGAP1/Cdc42 pathways to coordinate reversal of migration direction, thereby avoiding shear stress. Cells displaying higher shear sensitivity due to higher TRPM7 activity levels intravasate less efficiently and establish less invasive metastatic lesions. This study provides a mechanistic interpretation for the role of shear stress and its sensor, TRPM7, in tumor cell intravasation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher L Yankaskas
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
- Johns Hopkins Institute for NanoBioTechnology, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Kaustav Bera
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
- Johns Hopkins Institute for NanoBioTechnology, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | | | - Selma A Serra
- Laboratory of Molecular Physiology, Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Julia Carrillo-Garcia
- Laboratory of Molecular Physiology, Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Soontorn Tuntithavornwat
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
- Johns Hopkins Institute for NanoBioTechnology, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Panagiotis Mistriotis
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
- Johns Hopkins Institute for NanoBioTechnology, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
| | - John D Lewis
- Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E1, Canada
| | - Miguel A Valverde
- Laboratory of Molecular Physiology, Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Konstantinos Konstantopoulos
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA.
- Johns Hopkins Institute for NanoBioTechnology, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
- Department of Oncology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
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34
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Liu X, Fang J, Huang S, Wu X, Xie X, Wang J, Liu F, Zhang M, Peng Z, Hu N. Tumor-on-a-chip: from bioinspired design to biomedical application. MICROSYSTEMS & NANOENGINEERING 2021; 7:50. [PMID: 34567763 PMCID: PMC8433302 DOI: 10.1038/s41378-021-00277-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2020] [Revised: 04/09/2021] [Accepted: 04/15/2021] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Cancer is one of the leading causes of human death, despite enormous efforts to explore cancer biology and develop anticancer therapies. The main challenges in cancer research are establishing an efficient tumor microenvironment in vitro and exploring efficient means for screening anticancer drugs to reveal the nature of cancer and develop treatments. The tumor microenvironment possesses human-specific biophysical and biochemical factors that are difficult to recapitulate in conventional in vitro planar cell models and in vivo animal models. Therefore, model limitations have hindered the translation of basic research findings to clinical applications. In this review, we introduce the recent progress in tumor-on-a-chip devices for cancer biology research, medicine assessment, and biomedical applications in detail. The emerging tumor-on-a-chip platforms integrating 3D cell culture, microfluidic technology, and tissue engineering have successfully mimicked the pivotal structural and functional characteristics of the in vivo tumor microenvironment. The recent advances in tumor-on-a-chip platforms for cancer biology studies and biomedical applications are detailed and analyzed in this review. This review should be valuable for further understanding the mechanisms of the tumor evolution process, screening anticancer drugs, and developing cancer therapies, and it addresses the challenges and potential opportunities in predicting drug screening and cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingxing Liu
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, State Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Materials and Technologies, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Display Material and Technology, School of Electronics and Information Technology, Sun Yat-Sen University, 510006 Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiaru Fang
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, State Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Materials and Technologies, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Display Material and Technology, School of Electronics and Information Technology, Sun Yat-Sen University, 510006 Guangzhou, China
| | - Shuang Huang
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, State Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Materials and Technologies, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Display Material and Technology, School of Electronics and Information Technology, Sun Yat-Sen University, 510006 Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaoxue Wu
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, State Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Materials and Technologies, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Display Material and Technology, School of Electronics and Information Technology, Sun Yat-Sen University, 510006 Guangzhou, China
| | - Xi Xie
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, State Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Materials and Technologies, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Display Material and Technology, School of Electronics and Information Technology, Sun Yat-Sen University, 510006 Guangzhou, China
| | - Ji Wang
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, State Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Materials and Technologies, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Display Material and Technology, School of Electronics and Information Technology, Sun Yat-Sen University, 510006 Guangzhou, China
| | - Fanmao Liu
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, State Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Materials and Technologies, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Display Material and Technology, School of Electronics and Information Technology, Sun Yat-Sen University, 510006 Guangzhou, China
| | - Meng Zhang
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, State Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Materials and Technologies, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Display Material and Technology, School of Electronics and Information Technology, Sun Yat-Sen University, 510006 Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhenwei Peng
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, State Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Materials and Technologies, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Display Material and Technology, School of Electronics and Information Technology, Sun Yat-Sen University, 510006 Guangzhou, China
| | - Ning Hu
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, State Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Materials and Technologies, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Display Material and Technology, School of Electronics and Information Technology, Sun Yat-Sen University, 510006 Guangzhou, China
- State Key Laboratory of Transducer Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 200050 Shanghai, China
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Fontana F, Marzagalli M, Sommariva M, Gagliano N, Limonta P. In Vitro 3D Cultures to Model the Tumor Microenvironment. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13122970. [PMID: 34199324 PMCID: PMC8231786 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13122970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2021] [Revised: 06/06/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Tumor stroma is known to significantly influence cancer initiation and progression. In the last decade, 3D cell cultures have shown potential in modeling the tumor microenvironment. This review summarizes the main features of current 3D models, shedding light on their importance in the study of cancer biology and treatment. Abstract It is now well established that the tumor microenvironment plays a key role in determining cancer growth, metastasis and drug resistance. Thus, it is fundamental to understand how cancer cells interact and communicate with their stroma and how this crosstalk regulates disease initiation and progression. In this setting, 3D cell cultures have gained a lot of interest in the last two decades, due to their ability to better recapitulate the complexity of tumor microenvironment and therefore to bridge the gap between 2D monolayers and animal models. Herein, we present an overview of the 3D systems commonly used for studying tumor–stroma interactions, with a focus on recent advances in cancer modeling and drug discovery and testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabrizio Fontana
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Via Balzaretti 9, 20133 Milan, Italy; (M.M.); (P.L.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-02-503-18427
| | - Monica Marzagalli
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Via Balzaretti 9, 20133 Milan, Italy; (M.M.); (P.L.)
| | - Michele Sommariva
- Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, Via Mangiagalli 31, 20133 Milan, Italy; (M.S.); (N.G.)
| | - Nicoletta Gagliano
- Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, Via Mangiagalli 31, 20133 Milan, Italy; (M.S.); (N.G.)
| | - Patrizia Limonta
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Via Balzaretti 9, 20133 Milan, Italy; (M.M.); (P.L.)
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Franchi-Mendes T, Lopes N, Brito C. Heterotypic Tumor Spheroids in Agitation-Based Cultures: A Scaffold-Free Cell Model That Sustains Long-Term Survival of Endothelial Cells. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2021; 9:649949. [PMID: 34178955 PMCID: PMC8219978 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2021.649949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2021] [Accepted: 05/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Endothelial cells (ECs) are an important component of the tumor microenvironment, playing key roles in tumor development and progression that span from angiogenesis to immune regulation and drug resistance. Heterotypic tumor spheroids are one of the most widely used in vitro tumor microenvironment models, presenting improved recapitulation of tumor microenvironments compared to 2D cultures, in a simple and low-cost setup. Heterotypic tumor spheroid models incorporating endothelial cells have been proposed but present multiple limitations, such as the short culture duration typically obtained, the use of animal-derived matrices, and poor reproducibility; the diversity of culture conditions employed hinders comparison between studies and standardization of relevant culture parameters. Herein, we developed long-term cultures of triple heterotypic spheroids composed of the HCC1954 tumor cell line, human fibroblasts, and ECs. We explored culture parameters potentially relevant for EC maintenance, such as tumor cell line, seeding cell number, cell ratio, and agitation vs. static culture. In HCC1954-based spheroids, we observed maintenance of viable EC for up to 1 month of culture in agitation, with retention of the identity markers CD31 and von Willebrand factor. At the optimized tumor cell:fibroblast:EC ratio of 1:3:10, HCC1954-based spheroids had a higher EC area/total spheroid area at 1 month of culture than the other cell ratios tested. EC maintenance was tumor cell line-dependent, and in HCC1954-based spheroids it was also dependent on the presence of fibroblasts and agitation. Moreover, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) supplementation was not required for maintenance of EC, as the factor was endogenously produced. ECs co-localized with fibroblasts, which accumulated preferentially in the core of the spheroids and secreted EC-relevant extracellular matrix proteins, such as collagen I and IV. This simple model setup does not rely on artificial or animal-derived scaffolds and can serve as a useful tool to explore the culture parameters influencing heterotypic spheroids, contributing to model standardization, as well as to explore molecular cross talk of ECs within the tumor microenvironment, and potentially its effects on drug response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teresa Franchi-Mendes
- iBET, Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Tecnológica, Oeiras, Portugal.,Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Nuno Lopes
- iBET, Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Tecnológica, Oeiras, Portugal.,Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Catarina Brito
- iBET, Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Tecnológica, Oeiras, Portugal.,Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Oeiras, Portugal.,The Discoveries Centre for Regenerative and Precision Medicine, Oeiras, Portugal
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Zhang Q, Bosch-Rué È, Pérez RA, Truskey GA. Biofabrication of tissue engineering vascular systems. APL Bioeng 2021; 5:021507. [PMID: 33981941 PMCID: PMC8106537 DOI: 10.1063/5.0039628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2020] [Accepted: 04/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death among persons aged 65 and older in the United States and many other developed countries. Tissue engineered vascular systems (TEVS) can serve as grafts for CVD treatment and be used as in vitro model systems to examine the role of various genetic factors during the CVD progressions. Current focus in the field is to fabricate TEVS that more closely resembles the mechanical properties and extracellular matrix environment of native vessels, which depends heavily on the advance in biofabrication techniques and discovery of novel biomaterials. In this review, we outline the mechanical and biological design requirements of TEVS and explore the history and recent advances in biofabrication methods and biomaterials for tissue engineered blood vessels and microvascular systems with special focus on in vitro applications. In vitro applications of TEVS for disease modeling are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiao Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, USA
| | - Èlia Bosch-Rué
- Bioengineering Institute of Technology (BIT), Universitat Internacional de Catalunya (UIC), Sant Cugat del Vallès 08195, Spain
| | - Román A. Pérez
- Bioengineering Institute of Technology (BIT), Universitat Internacional de Catalunya (UIC), Sant Cugat del Vallès 08195, Spain
| | - George A. Truskey
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, USA
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Oh HJ, Kim J, Kim H, Choi N, Chung S. Microfluidic Reconstitution of Tumor Microenvironment for Nanomedical Applications. Adv Healthc Mater 2021; 10:e2002122. [PMID: 33576178 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202002122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Nanoparticles have an extensive range of diagnostic and therapeutic applications in cancer treatment. However, their current clinical translation is slow, mainly due to the failure to develop preclinical evaluation techniques that can draw similar conclusions to clinical outcomes by adequately mimicking nanoparticle behavior in complicated tumor microenvironments (TMEs). Microfluidic methods offer significant advantages over conventional in vitro methods to resolve these challenges by recapitulating physiological cues of the TME such as the extracellular matrix, shear stress, interstitial flow, soluble factors, oxygen, and nutrient gradients. The methods are capable of de-coupling microenvironmental features, spatiotemporal controlling of experimental sequences, and high throughput readouts in situ. This progress report highlights the recent achievements of microfluidic models to reconstitute the physiological microenvironment, especially for nanomedical tools for cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyun Jeong Oh
- School of Mechanical Engineering Korea University Seoul 02841 Republic of Korea
| | - Jaehoon Kim
- School of Mechanical Engineering Korea University Seoul 02841 Republic of Korea
| | - Hyunho Kim
- School of Mechanical Engineering Korea University Seoul 02841 Republic of Korea
| | - Nakwon Choi
- Center for BioMicrosystems Brain Science Institute Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) Seoul 02792 Republic of Korea
- Division of Bio‐Medical Science & Technology KIST School Korea University of Science and Technology (UST) Seoul 34113 Republic of Korea
- KU‐KIST Graduate School of Converging Science and Technology Korea University Seoul 02841 Republic of Korea
| | - Seok Chung
- School of Mechanical Engineering Korea University Seoul 02841 Republic of Korea
- KU‐KIST Graduate School of Converging Science and Technology Korea University Seoul 02841 Republic of Korea
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Lim J, Ching H, Yoon JK, Jeon NL, Kim Y. Microvascularized tumor organoids-on-chips: advancing preclinical drug screening with pathophysiological relevance. NANO CONVERGENCE 2021; 8:12. [PMID: 33846849 PMCID: PMC8042002 DOI: 10.1186/s40580-021-00261-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2020] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Recent developments of organoids engineering and organ-on-a-chip microfluidic technologies have enabled the recapitulation of the major functions and architectures of microscale human tissue, including tumor pathophysiology. Nevertheless, there remain challenges in recapitulating the complexity and heterogeneity of tumor microenvironment. The integration of these engineering technologies suggests a potential strategy to overcome the limitations in reconstituting the perfusable microvascular system of large-scale tumors conserving their key functional features. Here, we review the recent progress of in vitro tumor-on-a-chip microfluidic technologies, focusing on the reconstruction of microvascularized organoid models to suggest a better platform for personalized cancer medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jungeun Lim
- School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
- George W, Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, North Ave NW, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
| | - Hanna Ching
- School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeong-Kee Yoon
- School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Noo Li Jeon
- George W, Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, North Ave NW, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
- Institute of Advanced Machinery and Design, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
- Institute of Bioengineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - YongTae Kim
- School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea.
- Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA.
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA.
- Institute for Electronics and Nanotechnology, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA.
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40
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Abstract
Recreating human organ-level function in vitro is a rapidly evolving field that integrates tissue engineering, stem cell biology, and microfluidic technology to produce 3D organoids. A critical component of all organs is the vasculature. Herein, we discuss general strategies to create vascularized organoids, including common source materials, and survey previous work using vascularized organoids to recreate specific organ functions and simulate tumor progression. Vascularization is not only an essential component of individual organ function but also responsible for coupling the fate of all organs and their functions. While some success in coupling two or more organs together on a single platform has been demonstrated, we argue that the future of vascularized organoid technology lies in creating organoid systems complete with tissue-specific microvasculature and in coupling multiple organs through a dynamic vascular network to create systems that can respond to changing physiological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Venktesh S Shirure
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Davis, California 95616, USA;
| | - Christopher C W Hughes
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, California 92697, USA
| | - Steven C George
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Davis, California 95616, USA;
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Graney PL, Tavakol DN, Chramiec A, Ronaldson-Bouchard K, Vunjak-Novakovic G. Engineered models of tumor metastasis with immune cell contributions. iScience 2021; 24:102179. [PMID: 33718831 PMCID: PMC7921600 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.102179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Most cancer deaths are due to tumor metastasis rather than the primary tumor. Metastasis is a highly complex and dynamic process that requires orchestration of signaling between the tumor, its local environment, distant tissue sites, and immune system. Animal models of cancer metastasis provide the necessary systemic environment but lack control over factors that regulate cancer progression and often do not recapitulate the properties of human cancers. Bioengineered "organs-on-a-chip" that incorporate the primary tumor, metastatic tissue targets, and microfluidic perfusion are now emerging as quantitative human models of tumor metastasis. The ability of these systems to model tumor metastasis in individualized, patient-specific settings makes them uniquely suitable for studies of cancer biology and developmental testing of new treatments. In this review, we focus on human multi-organ platforms that incorporate circulating and tissue-resident immune cells in studies of tumor metastasis.
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Amirghasemi F, Adjei-Sowah E, Pockaj BA, Nikkhah M. Microengineered 3D Tumor Models for Anti-Cancer Drug Discovery in Female-Related Cancers. Ann Biomed Eng 2021; 49:1943-1972. [PMID: 33403451 DOI: 10.1007/s10439-020-02704-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 12/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The burden of cancer continues to increase in society and negatively impacts the lives of numerous patients. Due to the high cost of current treatment strategies, there is a crucial unmet need to develop inexpensive preclinical platforms to accelerate the process of anti-cancer drug discovery to improve outcomes in cancer patients, most especially in female patients. Many current methods employ expensive animal models which not only present ethical concerns but also do not often accurately predict human physiology and the outcomes of anti-cancer drug responsiveness. Conventional treatment approaches for cancer generally include systemic therapy after a surgical procedure. Although this treatment technique is effective, the outcome is not always positive due to various complex factors such as intratumor heterogeneity and confounding factors within the tumor microenvironment (TME). Patients who develop metastatic disease still have poor prognosis. To that end, recent efforts have attempted to use 3D microengineered platforms to enhance the predictive power and efficacy of anti-cancer drug screening, ultimately to develop personalized therapies. Fascinating features of microengineered assays, such as microfluidics, have led to the advancement in the development of the tumor-on-chip technology platforms, which have shown tremendous potential for meaningful and physiologically relevant anti-cancer drug discovery and screening. Three dimensional microscale models provide unprecedented ability to unveil the biological complexities of cancer and shed light into the mechanism of anti-cancer drug resistance in a timely and resource efficient manner. In this review, we discuss recent advances in the development of microengineered tumor models for anti-cancer drug discovery and screening in female-related cancers. We specifically focus on female-related cancers to draw attention to the various approaches being taken to improve the survival rate of women diagnosed with cancers caused by sex disparities. We also briefly discuss other cancer types like colon adenocarcinomas and glioblastoma due to their high rate of occurrence in females, as well as the high likelihood of sex-biased mutations which complicate current treatment strategies for women. We highlight recent advances in the development of 3D microscale platforms including 3D tumor spheroids, microfluidic platforms as well as bioprinted models, and discuss how they have been utilized to address major challenges in the process of drug discovery, such as chemoresistance, intratumor heterogeneity, drug toxicity, etc. We also present the potential of these platform technologies for use in high-throughput drug screening approaches as a replacements of conventional assays. Within each section, we will provide our perspectives on advantages of the discussed platform technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farbod Amirghasemi
- School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287-9709, USA
| | - Emmanuela Adjei-Sowah
- School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287-9709, USA
| | - Barbara A Pockaj
- Division of Surgical Oncology and Endocrine Surgery, Department of Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Mehdi Nikkhah
- School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287-9709, USA. .,Biodesign Virginia G. Piper Center for Personalized Diagnostics, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA.
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Abstract
Engineered human mini-brains, made possible by knowledge from the convergence of precision microengineering and cell biology, permit systematic studies of complex neurological processes and of pathogenesis beyond what can be done with animal models. By culturing human brain cells with physiological microenvironmental cues, human mini-brain models reconstitute the arrangement of structural tissues and some of the complex biological functions of the human brain. In this Review, we highlight the most significant developments that have led to microphysiological human mini-brain models. We introduce the history of mini-brain development, review methods for creating mini-brain models in static conditions, and discuss relevant state-of-the-art dynamic cell-culture systems. We also review human mini-brain models that reconstruct aspects of major neurological disorders under static or dynamic conditions. Engineered human mini-brains will contribute to advancing the study of the physiology and aetiology of neurological disorders, and to the development of personalized medicines for them.
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Haase K, Offeddu GS, Gillrie MR, Kamm RD. Endothelial Regulation of Drug Transport in a 3D Vascularized Tumor Model. ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS 2020; 30:2002444. [PMID: 33692661 PMCID: PMC7939067 DOI: 10.1002/adfm.202002444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2020] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Drug discovery and efficacy in cancer treatments are limited by the inability of pre-clinical models to predict successful outcomes in humans. Limitations remain partly due to their lack of a physiologic tumor microenvironment (TME), which plays a considerable role in drug delivery and tumor response to therapy. Chemotherapeutics and immunotherapies rely on transport through the vasculature, via the smallest capillaries and stroma to the tumor, where passive and active transport processes are at play. Here, a 3D vascularized tumor on-chip is used to examine drug delivery in a relevant TME within a large bed of perfusable vasculature. This system demonstrates highly localized pathophysiological effects of two tumor spheroids (Skov3 and A549) which cause significant changes in vessel density and barrier function. Paclitaxel (Taxol) uptake is examined through diffusivity measurements, functional efflux assays and accumulation of the fluorescent-conjugated drug within the TME. Due to vascular and stromal contributions, differences in the response of vascularized tumors to Taxol (shrinkage and CD44 expression) are apparent compared with simpler models. This model specifically allows for examination of spatially resolved tumor-associated endothelial dysfunction, likely improving the representation of in vivo drug distribution, and has potential for development into a more predictable model of drug delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristina Haase
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Massachusetts, 02139, USA
| | | | - Mark R Gillrie
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Massachusetts, 02139, USA; University of Calgary, Calgary, T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Roger D Kamm
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Massachusetts, 02139, USA
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Haykal MM, Nahmias C, Varon C, Martin OCB. Organotypic Modeling of the Tumor Landscape. Front Cell Dev Biol 2020; 8:606039. [PMID: 33330508 PMCID: PMC7732527 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.606039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 11/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer is a complex disease and it is now clear that not only epithelial tumor cells play a role in carcinogenesis. The tumor microenvironment is composed of non-stromal cells, including endothelial cells, adipocytes, immune and nerve cells, and a stromal compartment composed of extracellular matrix, cancer-associated fibroblasts and mesenchymal cells. Tumorigenesis is a dynamic process with constant interactions occurring between the tumor cells and their surroundings. Even though all connections have not yet been discovered, it is now known that crosstalk between actors of the microenvironment drives cancer progression. Taking into account this complexity, it is important to develop relevant models to study carcinogenesis. Conventional 2D culture models fail to represent the entire tumor microenvironment properly and the use of animal models should be decreased with respect to the 3Rs rule. To this aim, in vitro organotypic models have been significantly developed these past few years. These models have different levels of complexity and allow the study of tumor cells alone or in interaction with the microenvironment actors during the multiple stages of carcinogenesis. This review depicts recent insights into organotypic modeling of the tumor and its microenvironment all throughout cancer progression. It offers an overview of the crosstalk between epithelial cancer cells and their microenvironment during the different phases of carcinogenesis, from the early cell autonomous events to the late metastatic stages. The advantages of 3D over classical 2D or in vivo models are presented as well as the most promising organotypic models. A particular focus is made on organotypic models used for studying cancer progression, from the less complex spheroids to the more sophisticated body-on-a-chip. Last but not least, we address the potential benefits of these models in personalized medicine which is undoubtedly a domain paving the path to new hopes in terms of cancer care and cure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria M. Haykal
- Université Paris-Saclay, Institut Gustave Roussy, Inserm U981, Biomarqueurs Prédictifs et Nouvelles Stratégies Thérapeutiques en Oncologie, Villejuif, France
| | - Clara Nahmias
- Université Paris-Saclay, Institut Gustave Roussy, Inserm U981, Biomarqueurs Prédictifs et Nouvelles Stratégies Thérapeutiques en Oncologie, Villejuif, France
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Interstitial Hypertension Suppresses Escape of Human Breast Tumor Cells Via Convection of Interstitial Fluid. Cell Mol Bioeng 2020; 14:147-159. [PMID: 33868497 DOI: 10.1007/s12195-020-00661-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2019] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Interstitial hypertension, a rise in interstitial fluid pressure, is a common feature of many solid tumors as they progress to an invasive state. It is currently unclear whether this elevated pressure alters the probability that tumor cells eventually escape into a neighboring blood or lymphatic vessel. Methods In this study, we analyze the escape of MDA-MB-231 human breast tumor cells from a ~3-mm-long preformed aggregate into a 120-μm-diameter empty cavity in a micromolded type I collagen gel. The "micro-tumors" were located within ~300 μm of one or two cavities. Pressures of ~0.65 cm H2O were applied only to the tumor ("interstitial hypertension") or to its adjacent cavity. Results This work shows that interstitial hypertension suppresses escape into the adjacent cavity, but not because tumor cells respond directly to the pressure profile. Instead, hypertension alters the chemical microenvironment at the tumor margin to one that hampers escape. Administration of tumor interstitial fluid phenocopies the effects of hypertension. Conclusions This work uncovers a link between tumor pressure, interstitial flow, and tumor cell escape in MDA-MB-231 cells, and suggests that interstitial hypertension serves to hinder further progression to metastatic escape. Electronic Supplementary Material The online version of this article (10.1007/s12195-020-00661-w) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Brassard-Jollive N, Monnot C, Muller L, Germain S. In vitro 3D Systems to Model Tumor Angiogenesis and Interactions With Stromal Cells. Front Cell Dev Biol 2020; 8:594903. [PMID: 33224956 PMCID: PMC7674638 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.594903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
In vitro 3D culture systems provide promising tools for screening novel therapies and understanding drug resistance mechanisms in cancer because they are adapted for high throughput analysis. One of the main current challenges is to reproducibly culture patient samples containing cancer and stromal cells to faithfully recapitulate tumor microenvironment and move toward efficient personalized medicine. Tumors are composed of heterogeneous cell populations and characterized by chaotic vascularization in a remodeled microenvironment. Indeed, tumor angiogenesis occurs in a complex stroma containing immune cells and cancer-associated fibroblasts that secrete important amounts of cytokines, growth factors, extracellular vesicles, and extracellular matrix (ECM). This process leads to the formation of inflated, tortuous, and permeable capillaries that display deficient basement membrane (BM) and perivascular coverage. These abnormal capillaries affect responses to anti-cancer therapies such as anti-angiogenic, radio-, and immunotherapies. Current pre-clinical models are limited for investigating interactions between tumor cells and vascularization during tumor progression as well as mechanisms that lead to drug resistance. In vitro approaches developed for vascularization are either the result of engineered cell lining or based on physiological processes including vasculogenesis and sprouting angiogenesis. They allow investigation of paracrine and direct interactions between endothelial and tumor and/or stromal cells, as well as impact of biochemical and biophysical cues of the microenvironment, using either natural matrix components or functionalized synthetic hydrogels. In addition, microfluidic devices provide access to modeling the impact of shear stress and interstitial flow and growth factor gradients. In this review, we will describe the state of the art co-culture models of vascularized micro-tumors in order to study tumor progression and metastatic dissemination including intravasation and/or extravasation processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noémie Brassard-Jollive
- Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Biology, College de France, CNRS UMR 7241, INSERM U1050, PSL Research University, Paris, France.,Sorbonne Université, Collège Doctoral, Paris, France
| | - Catherine Monnot
- Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Biology, College de France, CNRS UMR 7241, INSERM U1050, PSL Research University, Paris, France
| | - Laurent Muller
- Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Biology, College de France, CNRS UMR 7241, INSERM U1050, PSL Research University, Paris, France
| | - Stéphane Germain
- Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Biology, College de France, CNRS UMR 7241, INSERM U1050, PSL Research University, Paris, France
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Ngo MT, Harley BAC. Angiogenic biomaterials to promote therapeutic regeneration and investigate disease progression. Biomaterials 2020; 255:120207. [PMID: 32569868 PMCID: PMC7396313 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2020.120207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2020] [Revised: 06/08/2020] [Accepted: 06/10/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The vasculature is a key component of the tissue microenvironment. Traditionally known for its role in providing nutrients and oxygen to surrounding cells, the vasculature is now also acknowledged to provide signaling cues that influence biological outcomes in regeneration and disease. These cues come from the cells that comprise vasculature, as well as the dynamic biophysical and biochemical properties of the surrounding extracellular matrix that accompany vascular development and remodeling. In this review, we illustrate the larger role of the vasculature in the context of regenerative biology and cancer progression. We describe cellular, biophysical, biochemical, and metabolic components of vascularized microenvironments. Moreover, we provide an overview of multidimensional angiogenic biomaterials that have been developed to promote therapeutic vascularization and regeneration, as well as to mimic elements of vascularized microenvironments as a means to uncover mechanisms by which vasculature influences cancer progression and therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mai T Ngo
- Dept. Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - Brendan A C Harley
- Dept. Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA; Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA; Cancer Center at Illinois, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA.
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49
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Gilazieva Z, Ponomarev A, Rutland C, Rizvanov A, Solovyeva V. Promising Applications of Tumor Spheroids and Organoids for Personalized Medicine. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:E2727. [PMID: 32977530 PMCID: PMC7598156 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12102727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2020] [Revised: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 09/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
One of the promising directions in personalized medicine is the use of three-dimensional (3D) tumor models such as spheroids and organoids. Spheroids and organoids are three-dimensional cultures of tumor cells that can be obtained from patient tissue and, using high-throughput personalized medicine methods, provide a suitable therapy for that patient. These 3D models can be obtained from most types of tumors, which provides opportunities for the creation of biobanks with appropriate patient materials that can be used to screen drugs and facilitate the development of therapeutic agents. It should be noted that the use of spheroids and organoids would expand the understanding of tumor biology and its microenvironment, help develop new in vitro platforms for drug testing and create new therapeutic strategies. In this review, we discuss 3D tumor spheroid and organoid models, their advantages and disadvantages, and evaluate their promising use in personalized medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zarema Gilazieva
- Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, 420008 Kazan, Russia; (Z.G.); (A.P.); (A.R.)
| | - Aleksei Ponomarev
- Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, 420008 Kazan, Russia; (Z.G.); (A.P.); (A.R.)
| | - Catrin Rutland
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK;
| | - Albert Rizvanov
- Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, 420008 Kazan, Russia; (Z.G.); (A.P.); (A.R.)
| | - Valeriya Solovyeva
- Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, 420008 Kazan, Russia; (Z.G.); (A.P.); (A.R.)
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50
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Bi Y, Shirure VS, Liu R, Cunningham C, Ding L, Meacham JM, Goedegebuure SP, George SC, Fields RC. Tumor-on-a-chip platform to interrogate the role of macrophages in tumor progression. Integr Biol (Camb) 2020; 12:221-232. [PMID: 32930334 DOI: 10.1093/intbio/zyaa017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2020] [Revised: 07/20/2020] [Accepted: 08/15/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Tumor-infiltrating leukocytes, in particular macrophages, play an important role in tumor behavior and clinical outcome. The spectrum of macrophage subtypes ranges from antitumor 'M1'-type to protumor 'M2'-type macrophages. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) typically display phenotypic features of both M1 and M2, and the population distribution is thought to be dynamic and evolves as the tumor progresses. However, our understanding of how TAMs impact the tumor microenvironment remains limited by the lack of appropriate 3D in vitro models that can capture cell-cell dynamics at high spatial and temporal resolution. Using our recently developed microphysiological 'tumor-on-a-chip' (TOC) device, we present here our findings on the impact of defined macrophage subsets on tumor behavior. The TOC device design contains three adjacent and connected chambers in which both the upper and lower chambers are loaded with tumor cells, whereas the central chamber contains a dynamic, perfused, living microvascular network. Introduction of human pancreatic or colorectal cancer cells together with M1-polarized macrophages significantly inhibited tumor growth and tumor-induced angiogenesis. Protein analysis and antibody-based neutralization studies confirmed that these effects were mediated through production of C-X-C motif chemokines (CXCL9), CXCL10 and CXCL11. By contrast, M2-macrophages mediated increased tumor cell migration into the vascularized chamber and did not inhibit tumor growth or angiogenesis. In fact, single-cell RNA sequencing showed that M2 macrophages further segregated endothelial cells into two distinct subsets, corresponding to static cells in vessels versus active cells involved in angiogenesis. The impact of M2 macrophages was mediated mostly by production of matrix metalloproteinase 7 and angiopoietin 2. In summary, our data demonstrate the utility of the TOC device to mechanistically probe biological questions in a 3D in vitro microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ye Bi
- Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Venktesh S Shirure
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Ruiyang Liu
- Department of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.,McDonnell Genome Institute, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63108, USA
| | - Cassandra Cunningham
- Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Li Ding
- Department of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.,McDonnell Genome Institute, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63108, USA
| | - J Mark Meacham
- Department of Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA
| | - S Peter Goedegebuure
- Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.,Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Steven C George
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Ryan C Fields
- Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.,Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
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