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Kim S, Lam PY, Jayaraman A, Han A. Uniform sized cancer spheroids production using hydrogel-based droplet microfluidics: a review. Biomed Microdevices 2024; 26:26. [PMID: 38806765 PMCID: PMC11241584 DOI: 10.1007/s10544-024-00712-3] [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] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024]
Abstract
Three-dimensional (3D) cell culture models have been extensively utilized in various mechanistic studies as well as for drug development studies as superior in vitro platforms than conventional two-dimensional (2D) cell culture models. This is especially the case in cancer biology, where 3D cancer models, such as spheroids or organoids, have been utilized extensively to understand the mechanisms of cancer development. Recently, many sophisticated 3D models such as organ-on-a-chip models are emerging as advanced in vitro models that can more accurately mimic the in vivo tissue functions. Despite such advancements, spheroids are still considered as a powerful 3D cancer model due to the relatively simple structure and compatibility with existing laboratory instruments, and also can provide orders of magnitude higher throughput than complex in vitro models, an extremely important aspects for drug development. However, creating well-defined spheroids remain challenging, both in terms of throughputs in generation as well as reproducibility in size and shape that can make it challenging for drug testing applications. In the past decades, droplet microfluidics utilizing hydrogels have been highlighted due to their potentials. Importantly, core-shell structured gel droplets can avoid spheroid-to-spheroid adhesion that can cause large variations in assays while also enabling long-term cultivation of spheroids with higher uniformity by protecting the core organoid area from external environment while the outer porous gel layer still allows nutrient exchange. Hence, core-shell gel droplet-based spheroid formation can improve the predictivity and reproducibility of drug screening assays. This review paper will focus on droplet microfluidics-based technologies for cancer spheroid production using various gel materials and structures. In addition, we will discuss emerging technologies that have the potential to advance the production of spheroids, prospects of such technologies, and remaining challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sungjin Kim
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Po Yi Lam
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Arul Jayaraman
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Arum Han
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.
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2
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Rousset N, de Geus M, Chimisso V, Kaestli AJ, Hierlemann A, Lohasz C. Controlling bead and cell mobility in a recirculating hanging-drop network. LAB ON A CHIP 2023; 23:4834-4847. [PMID: 37853793 DOI: 10.1039/d3lc00103b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
Integrating flowing cells, such as immune cells or circulating tumour cells, within a microphysiological system is crucial for body-on-a-chip applications. However, ensuring unimpeded recirculation of cells is a significant challenge. Closed microfluidic devices have a no-slip boundary condition along channel walls and a defined chip geometry (laminar flow) that hinders the ability to freely control cell flow. Open microfluidic devices, where the bottom device boundary is an air-liquid interface (ALI), e.g., hanging drop networks (HDNs), offer the advantage of an easily-actuatable fluid-phase geometry, where cells can either flow or stagnate. In this paper, we optimized a hanging-drop-integrated pneumatic-pump system for closed-loop recirculation of particles (i.e., beads or cells). Experiments with both beads and cells in cell culture medium initially resulted in particle stagnation, which was suggestive of a pseudo-no-slip boundary condition at the ALI. Transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering measurements of the ALI suggested that aggregation of submicron-scale cell-culture-medium components is the cause of the pseudo-no-slip boundary condition. We used the finite element method to study the forces on particles at the ALI and to optimize HDN design (drop aperture) and operation (drop height) parameters. Based on this analysis, we report a phase diagram delineating the conditions for free flow or stagnation of particles at the ALI of hanging drops. Using our experimental setup with 3.5 mm drop apertures, we conducted particle flow experiments while actuating drop heights. We confirmed the ability to control the flow or stagnation of particles by actuating the height of hanging drops: a drop height over 300 μm led to particle stagnation and a drop height under 300 μm allowed for particle flow. This particle-flow control, combined with the ease of integrating scaffold-free organ models (microtissues or organoids) in HDNs, constitutes the basis for an experimental setup enabling the control of the residence time of single cells around 3D organ models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nassim Rousset
- Bio Engineering Laboratory, Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zürich, Basel, CH, Switzerland.
| | - Martina de Geus
- Bio Engineering Laboratory, Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zürich, Basel, CH, Switzerland.
| | - Vittoria Chimisso
- Department of Chemistry, University of Basel, Basel, CH, Switzerland
| | - Alicia J Kaestli
- Bio Engineering Laboratory, Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zürich, Basel, CH, Switzerland.
| | - Andreas Hierlemann
- Bio Engineering Laboratory, Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zürich, Basel, CH, Switzerland.
| | - Christian Lohasz
- Bio Engineering Laboratory, Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zürich, Basel, CH, Switzerland.
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Tevlek A, Kecili S, Ozcelik OS, Kulah H, Tekin HC. Spheroid Engineering in Microfluidic Devices. ACS OMEGA 2023; 8:3630-3649. [PMID: 36743071 PMCID: PMC9893254 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.2c06052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Two-dimensional (2D) cell culture techniques are commonly employed to investigate biophysical and biochemical cellular responses. However, these culture methods, having monolayer cells, lack cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix interactions, mimicking the cell microenvironment and multicellular organization. Three-dimensional (3D) cell culture methods enable equal transportation of nutrients, gas, and growth factors among cells and their microenvironment. Therefore, 3D cultures show similar cell proliferation, apoptosis, and differentiation properties to in vivo. A spheroid is defined as self-assembled 3D cell aggregates, and it closely mimics a cell microenvironment in vitro thanks to cell-cell/matrix interactions, which enables its use in several important applications in medical and clinical research. To fabricate a spheroid, conventional methods such as liquid overlay, hanging drop, and so forth are available. However, these labor-intensive methods result in low-throughput fabrication and uncontrollable spheroid sizes. On the other hand, microfluidic methods enable inexpensive and rapid fabrication of spheroids with high precision. Furthermore, fabricated spheroids can also be cultured in microfluidic devices for controllable cell perfusion, simulation of fluid shear effects, and mimicking of the microenvironment-like in vivo conditions. This review focuses on recent microfluidic spheroid fabrication techniques and also organ-on-a-chip applications of spheroids, which are used in different disease modeling and drug development studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atakan Tevlek
- METU
MEMS Research and Application Center, Ankara 06800, Turkey
| | - Seren Kecili
- The
Department of Bioengineering, Izmir Institute
of Technology, Urla, Izmir 35430, Turkey
| | - Ozge S. Ozcelik
- The
Department of Bioengineering, Izmir Institute
of Technology, Urla, Izmir 35430, Turkey
| | - Haluk Kulah
- METU
MEMS Research and Application Center, Ankara 06800, Turkey
- The
Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Middle East Technical University, Ankara 06800, Turkey
| | - H. Cumhur Tekin
- METU
MEMS Research and Application Center, Ankara 06800, Turkey
- The
Department of Bioengineering, Izmir Institute
of Technology, Urla, Izmir 35430, Turkey
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4
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Feng J, Neuzil J, Manz A, Iliescu C, Neuzil P. Microfluidic trends in drug screening and drug delivery. Trends Analyt Chem 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.trac.2022.116821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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5
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Circuit-Based Design of Microfluidic Drop Networks. MICROMACHINES 2022; 13:mi13071124. [PMID: 35888941 PMCID: PMC9315978 DOI: 10.3390/mi13071124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2022] [Revised: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Microfluidic-drop networks consist of several stable drops—interconnected through microfluidic channels—in which organ models can be cultured long-term. Drop networks feature a versatile configuration and an air–liquid interface (ALI). This ALI provides ample oxygenation, rapid liquid turnover, passive degassing, and liquid-phase stability through capillary pressure. Mathematical modeling, e.g., by using computational fluid dynamics (CFD), is a powerful tool to design drop-based microfluidic devices and to optimize their operation. Although CFD is the most rigorous technique to model flow, it falls short in terms of computational efficiency. Alternatively, the hydraulic–electric analogy is an efficient “first-pass” method to explore the design and operation parameter space of microfluidic-drop networks. However, there are no direct electric analogs to a drop, due to the nonlinear nature of the capillary pressure of the ALI. Here, we present a circuit-based model of hanging- and standing-drop compartments. We show a phase diagram describing the nonlinearity of the capillary pressure of a hanging drop. This diagram explains how to experimentally ensure drop stability. We present a methodology to find flow rates and pressures within drop networks. Finally, we review several applications, where the method, outlined in this paper, was instrumental in optimizing design and operation.
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Liu S, Zhu P, Tian Y, Chen Y, Liu Y, Chen W, Liping D, Wu C. Preparation and application of taste bud organoids in biomedicine towards chemical sensation mechanisms. Biotechnol Bioeng 2022; 119:2015-2030. [PMID: 35441364 DOI: 10.1002/bit.28109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2021] [Revised: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Taste is one of the most basic and important sensations that is able to monitor the food quality and avoid intake of potential danger materials. Whether as an inevitable symptom of aging or a complication of cancer treatment, taste loss very seriously affects the patient's life quality. Taste bud organoids provide an alternative and convenient approach for the research of taste functions and the underlying mechanisms due to their characteristics of availability, strong maneuverability, and high similarity to the in-vivo taste buds. This review gives a systemic and comprehensive introduction to the preparation and application of taste bud organoids towards chemical sensing mechanisms. For the first, the basic structure and functions of taste buds will be briefly introduced. Then, the currently available approaches for the preparation of taste bud organoids are summarized and discussed, which are mainly divided into two categories, i.e. the stem/progenitor cell-derived approach and the tissue-derived approach. For the next, different applications of taste bud organoids in biomedicine are outlined based on their central roles such as disease modeling, biological sensing, gene regulation, and signal transduction. Finally, the current challenges, future development trends and prospects of research in taste bud organoids are proposed and discussed. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuge Liu
- Institute of Medical Engineering, Department of Biophysics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Health Science Center, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, China.,Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases (Xi'an Jiaotong University), Ministry of Education of China, Xi'an, 710061, China
| | - Ping Zhu
- Institute of Medical Engineering, Department of Biophysics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Health Science Center, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, China.,Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases (Xi'an Jiaotong University), Ministry of Education of China, Xi'an, 710061, China
| | - Yulan Tian
- Institute of Medical Engineering, Department of Biophysics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Health Science Center, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, China.,Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases (Xi'an Jiaotong University), Ministry of Education of China, Xi'an, 710061, China
| | - Yating Chen
- Institute of Medical Engineering, Department of Biophysics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Health Science Center, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, China.,Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases (Xi'an Jiaotong University), Ministry of Education of China, Xi'an, 710061, China
| | - Yage Liu
- Institute of Medical Engineering, Department of Biophysics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Health Science Center, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, China.,Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases (Xi'an Jiaotong University), Ministry of Education of China, Xi'an, 710061, China
| | - Wei Chen
- Institute of Medical Engineering, Department of Biophysics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Health Science Center, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, China.,Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases (Xi'an Jiaotong University), Ministry of Education of China, Xi'an, 710061, China
| | - Du Liping
- Institute of Medical Engineering, Department of Biophysics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Health Science Center, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, China.,Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases (Xi'an Jiaotong University), Ministry of Education of China, Xi'an, 710061, China
| | - Chunsheng Wu
- Institute of Medical Engineering, Department of Biophysics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Health Science Center, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, China.,Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases (Xi'an Jiaotong University), Ministry of Education of China, Xi'an, 710061, China
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7
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Kofman S, Mohan N, Sun X, Ibric L, Piermarini E, Qiang L. Human mini brains and spinal cords in a dish: Modeling strategies, current challenges, and prospective advances. J Tissue Eng 2022; 13:20417314221113391. [PMID: 35898331 PMCID: PMC9310295 DOI: 10.1177/20417314221113391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Engineered three-dimensional (3D) in vitro and ex vivo neural tissues, also known as "mini brains and spinal cords in a dish," can be derived from different types of human stem cells via several differentiation protocols. In general, human mini brains are micro-scale physiological systems consisting of mixed populations of neural progenitor cells, glial cells, and neurons that may represent key features of human brain anatomy and function. To date, these specialized 3D tissue structures can be characterized into spheroids, organoids, assembloids, organ-on-a-chip and their various combinations based on generation procedures and cellular components. These 3D CNS models incorporate complex cell-cell interactions and play an essential role in bridging the gap between two-dimensional human neuroglial cultures and animal models. Indeed, they provide an innovative platform for disease modeling and therapeutic cell replacement, especially shedding light on the potential to realize personalized medicine for neurological disorders when combined with the revolutionary human induced pluripotent stem cell technology. In this review, we highlight human 3D CNS models developed from a variety of experimental strategies, emphasize their advances and remaining challenges, evaluate their state-of-the-art applications in recapitulating crucial phenotypic aspects of many CNS diseases, and discuss the role of contemporary technologies in the prospective improvement of their composition, consistency, complexity, and maturation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simeon Kofman
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel
University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Neha Mohan
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel
University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Xiaohuan Sun
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel
University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Larisa Ibric
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel
University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Emanuela Piermarini
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel
University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Liang Qiang
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel
University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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8
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Zhang P, Shao N, Qin L. Recent Advances in Microfluidic Platforms for Programming Cell-Based Living Materials. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2021; 33:e2005944. [PMID: 34270839 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202005944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Revised: 10/20/2020] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Cell-based living materials, including single cells, cell-laden fibers, cell sheets, organoids, and organs, have attracted intensive interests owing to their widespread applications in cancer therapy, regenerative medicine, drug development, and so on. Significant progress in materials, microfabrication, and cell biology have promoted the development of numerous promising microfluidic platforms for programming these cell-based living materials with a high-throughput, scalable, and efficient manner. In this review, the recent progress of novel microfluidic platforms for programming cell-based living materials is presented. First, the unique features, categories, and materials and related fabrication methods of microfluidic platforms are briefly introduced. From the viewpoint of the design principles of the microfluidic platforms, the recent significant advances of programming single cells, cell-laden fibers, cell sheets, organoids, and organs in turns are then highlighted. Last, by providing personal perspectives on challenges and future trends, this review aims to motivate researchers from the fields of materials and engineering to work together with biologists and physicians to promote the development of cell-based living materials for human healthcare-related applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengchao Zhang
- Department of Nanomedicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Ning Shao
- Department of Nanomedicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Lidong Qin
- Department of Nanomedicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY, 10065, USA
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9
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Zhuang P, Chiang YH, Fernanda MS, He M. Using Spheroids as Building Blocks Towards 3D Bioprinting of Tumor Microenvironment. Int J Bioprint 2021; 7:444. [PMID: 34805601 PMCID: PMC8600307 DOI: 10.18063/ijb.v7i4.444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2021] [Accepted: 10/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer still ranks as a leading cause of mortality worldwide. Although considerable efforts have been dedicated to anticancer therapeutics, progress is still slow, partially due to the absence of robust prediction models. Multicellular tumor spheroids, as a major three-dimensional (3D) culture model exhibiting features of avascular tumors, gained great popularity in pathophysiological studies and high throughput drug screening. However, limited control over cellular and structural organization is still the key challenge in achieving in vivo like tissue microenvironment. 3D bioprinting has made great strides toward tissue/organ mimicry, due to its outstanding spatial control through combining both cells and materials, scalability, and reproducibility. Prospectively, harnessing the power from both 3D bioprinting and multicellular spheroids would likely generate more faithful tumor models and advance our understanding on the mechanism of tumor progression. In this review, the emerging concept on using spheroids as a building block in 3D bioprinting for tumor modeling is illustrated. We begin by describing the context of the tumor microenvironment, followed by an introduction of various methodologies for tumor spheroid formation, with their specific merits and drawbacks. Thereafter, we present an overview of existing 3D printed tumor models using spheroids as a focus. We provide a compilation of the contemporary literature sources and summarize the overall advancements in technology and possibilities of using spheroids as building blocks in 3D printed tissue modeling, with a particular emphasis on tumor models. Future outlooks about the wonderous advancements of integrated 3D spheroidal printing conclude this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei Zhuang
- Department of Pharmaceutics, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, 32610, USA
| | - Yi-Hua Chiang
- Department of Pharmaceutics, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, 32610, USA
| | | | - Mei He
- Department of Pharmaceutics, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, 32610, USA
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10
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Ahn J, Jung KB, Kwon O, Choi MS, Ahn JH, Han HY, Jung CR, Yoon S, Son MY, Oh JH. Impedance Measurement System for Assessing the Barrier Integrity of Three-Dimensional Human Intestinal Organoids. Anal Chem 2021; 93:8826-8834. [PMID: 34132523 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.1c00655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)-derived intestinal organoids (HIOs) hold unprecedented promise for basic biology and translational applications. However, developing a quantitative method to evaluate the epithelial cell membrane integrity of HIOs as an in vitro intestinal barrier model is a major challenge because of their complex three-dimensional (3D) structure. In this study, we developed an impedance system to measure the change in electrical resistance of 3D HIOs depending on the integrity of the intestinal epithelial cell membrane, which can reflect functionality and maturity. The expression of intestinal maturation- and tight junction-related markers was significantly higher in HIOs matured in vitro by treatment with IL-2 than in control HIOs. Analysis of gap junction size indicated that mature HIOs have greater integrity, with approximately 30% more compact gaps than immature HIOs. We designed a multi-microchannel system controlled by the inhalation pressure where the HIO is loaded, which enhances the stability and sensitivity of the impedance signal. We demonstrated the applicability of the impedance system by showing the difference in resistance between control and mature HIOs, reflecting the expression of tight junction proteins and their maturation status. We also validated the impedance system by monitoring its resistance in real time during junctional damage to HIOs induced by a digestive agent. In summary, we suggest a quantitative method to directly quantify the physiological changes in complex 3D organoid structures based on impedance spectroscopy, which can be applied to noninvasively monitor live cells and therefore enable their use in subsequent experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaehwan Ahn
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
- Department of Predictive Toxicology, Korea Institute of Toxicology, Daejeon 34114, Republic of Korea
| | - Kwang Bo Jung
- Stem Cell Convergence Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
- KRIBB School of Bioscience, Korea University of Science and Technology (UST), Daejeon 34113, Republic of Korea
| | - Ohman Kwon
- Stem Cell Convergence Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Mi-Sun Choi
- Department of Predictive Toxicology, Korea Institute of Toxicology, Daejeon 34114, Republic of Korea
| | - Jun-Ho Ahn
- Bio Medical Research Center, Bio Medical & Health Division, Korea Testing Laboratory (KTL), Seoul 08389, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyoung-Yun Han
- Department of Predictive Toxicology, Korea Institute of Toxicology, Daejeon 34114, Republic of Korea
| | - Cho-Rok Jung
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
- Department of Predictive Toxicology, Korea Institute of Toxicology, Daejeon 34114, Republic of Korea
| | - Seokjoo Yoon
- Department of Predictive Toxicology, Korea Institute of Toxicology, Daejeon 34114, Republic of Korea
| | - Mi-Young Son
- Stem Cell Convergence Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
- KRIBB School of Bioscience, Korea University of Science and Technology (UST), Daejeon 34113, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung-Hwa Oh
- Department of Predictive Toxicology, Korea Institute of Toxicology, Daejeon 34114, Republic of Korea
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11
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Time-resolved non-invasive metabolomic monitoring of a single cancer spheroid by microfluidic NMR. Sci Rep 2021; 11:53. [PMID: 33420162 PMCID: PMC7794408 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-79693-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2020] [Accepted: 11/27/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
We present a quantitative study of the metabolic activity of a single spheroid culture of human cancer cells. NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) spectroscopy is an ideal tool for observation of live systems due to its non-invasive nature. However, limited sensitivity has so far hindered its application in microfluidic culture systems. We have used an optimised micro-NMR platform to observe metabolic changes from a single spheroid. NMR spectra were obtained by directly inserting microfluidic devices containing spheroids ranging from 150 [Formula: see text]m to 300 [Formula: see text]m in diameter in 2.5 [Formula: see text]L of culture medium into a dedicated NMR probe. Metabolite concentrations were found to change linearly with time, with rates approximately proportional to the number of cells in the spheroid. The results demonstrate that quantitative monitoring of a single spheroid with [Formula: see text] 2500 cells is possible. A change in spheroid size by 600 cells leads to a clearly detectable change in the L-Lactic acid production rate ([Formula: see text]). The consumption of D-Glucose and production of L-Lactic acid were approximately 2.5 times slower in spheroids compared to monolayer culture of the same number of cells. Moreover, while cells in monolayer culture were found to produce L-Alanine and L-Glutamine, spheroids showed slight consumption in both cases.
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12
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Dadgar N, Gonzalez-Suarez AM, Fattahi P, Hou X, Weroha JS, Gaspar-Maia A, Stybayeva G, Revzin A. A microfluidic platform for cultivating ovarian cancer spheroids and testing their responses to chemotherapies. MICROSYSTEMS & NANOENGINEERING 2020; 6:93. [PMID: 34567703 PMCID: PMC8433468 DOI: 10.1038/s41378-020-00201-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2020] [Revised: 07/29/2020] [Accepted: 08/02/2020] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
There is increasing interest in utilizing in vitro cultures as patient avatars to develop personalized treatment for cancer. Typical cultures utilize Matrigel-coated plates and media to promote the proliferation of cancer cells as spheroids or tumor explants. However, standard culture conditions operate in large volumes and require a high concentration of cancer cells to initiate this process. Other limitations include variability in the ability to successfully establish a stable line and inconsistency in the dimensions of these microcancers for in vivo drug response measurements. This paper explored the utility of microfluidics in the cultivation of cancer cell spheroids. Six patient-derived xenograft (PDX) tumors of high-grade serous ovarian cancer were used as the source material to demonstrate that viability and epithelial marker expression in the microfluidic cultures was superior to that of Matrigel or large volume 3D cultures. To further demonstrate the potential for miniaturization and multiplexing, we fabricated multichamber microfluidic devices with integrated microvalves to enable serial seeding of several chambers followed by parallel testing of several drug concentrations. These valve-enabled microfluidic devices permitted the formation of spheroids and testing of seven drug concentrations with as few as 100,000 cancer cells per device. Overall, we demonstrate the feasibility of maintaining difficul-to-culture primary cancer cells and testing drugs in a microfluidic device. This microfluidic platform may be ideal for drug testing and personalized therapy when tumor material is limited, such as following the acquisition of biopsy specimens obtained by fine-needle aspiration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neda Dadgar
- Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905 USA
| | | | - Pouria Fattahi
- Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905 USA
| | - Xiaonan Hou
- Department of Medical Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905 USA
| | - John S. Weroha
- Department of Medical Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905 USA
| | - Alexandre Gaspar-Maia
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905 USA
| | - Gulnaz Stybayeva
- Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905 USA
| | - Alexander Revzin
- Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905 USA
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Funano SI, Tone D, Ukai H, Ueda HR, Tanaka Y. Rapid and easy-to-use ES cell manipulation device with a small groove near culturing wells. BMC Res Notes 2020; 13:453. [PMID: 33012292 PMCID: PMC7534166 DOI: 10.1186/s13104-020-05294-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2020] [Accepted: 09/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective Production of genetically modified mice including Knock-out (KO) or Knock-in (KI) mice is necessary for organism-level phenotype analysis. Embryonic stem cell (ESC)-based technologies can produce many genetically modified mice with less time without crossing. However, a complicated manual operation is required to increase the number of ESC colonies. Here, the objective of this study was to design and demonstrate a new device to easily find colonies and carry them to microwells. Results We developed a polydimethylsiloxane-based device for easy manipulation and isolation of ESC colonies. By introducing ESC colonies into the groove placed near culturing microwells, users can easily find, pick up and carry ESC colonies to microwells. By hydrophilic treatment using bovine serum albumin, 2-μL droplets including colonies reached the microwell bottom. Operation time using this device was shortened for both beginners (2.3-fold) and experts (1.5-fold) compared to the conventional colony picking operation. Isolated ESC colonies were confirmed to have maintained pluripotency. This device is expected to promote research by shortening the isolation procedure for ESC colonies or other large cells (e.g. eggs or embryos) and shortening training time for beginners as a simple sorter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shun-Ichi Funano
- Laboratory for Integrated Biodevice, Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, RIKEN, 1-3 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Daisuke Tone
- Laboratory for Synthetic Biology, Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, RIKEN, 1-3 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Hideki Ukai
- International Research Center for Neurointelligence (WPI-IRCN), UTIAS, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan
| | - Hiroki R Ueda
- Laboratory for Synthetic Biology, Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, RIKEN, 1-3 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan.,Department of Systems Pharmacology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan
| | - Yo Tanaka
- Laboratory for Integrated Biodevice, Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, RIKEN, 1-3 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan.
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14
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A Dynamic Hanging-Drop System for Mesenchymal Stem Cell Culture. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21124298. [PMID: 32560269 PMCID: PMC7352343 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21124298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2020] [Revised: 06/02/2020] [Accepted: 06/13/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
There have been many microfluid technologies combined with hanging-drop for cell culture gotten developed in the past decade. A common problem within these devices is that the cell suspension introduced at the central inlet could cause a number of cells in each microwell to not regularize. Also, the instability of droplets during the spheroid formation remains an unsolved ordeal. In this study, we designed a microfluidic-based hanging-drop culture system with the design of taper-tube that can increase the stability of droplets while enhancing the rate of liquid exchange. A ring is surrounding the taper-tube. The ring can hold the cells to enable us to seed an adequate amount of cells before perfusion. Moreover, during the period of cell culture, the mechanical force around the cell is relatively low to prevent stem cells from differentiate and maintain the phenotype. As a result of our hanging system design, cells are designed to accumulate at the bottom of the droplet. This method enhances convenience for observation activities and analysis of experiments. Thus, this microfluid chip can be used as an in vitro platform representing in vivo physiological conditions, and can be useful in regenerative therapy.
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15
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Misun PM, Yesildag B, Forschler F, Neelakandhan A, Rousset N, Biernath A, Hierlemann A, Frey O. In Vitro Platform for Studying Human Insulin Release Dynamics of Single Pancreatic Islet Microtissues at High Resolution. ADVANCED BIOSYSTEMS 2020; 4:e1900291. [PMID: 32293140 PMCID: PMC7610574 DOI: 10.1002/adbi.201900291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2019] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Insulin is released from pancreatic islets in a biphasic and pulsatile manner in response to elevated glucose levels. This highly dynamic insulin release can be studied in vitro with islet perifusion assays. Herein, a novel platform to perform glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) assays with single islets is presented for studying the dynamics of insulin release at high temporal resolution. A standardized human islet model is developed and a microfluidic hanging-drop-based perifusion system is engineered, which facilitates rapid glucose switching, minimal sample dilution, low analyte dispersion, and short sampling intervals. Human islet microtissues feature robust and long-term glucose responsiveness and demonstrate reproducible dynamic GSIS with a prominent first phase and a sustained, pulsatile second phase. Perifusion of single islet microtissues produces a higher peak secretion rate, higher secretion during the first and second phases of insulin release, as well as more defined pulsations during the second phase in comparison to perifusion of pooled islets. The developed platform enables to study compound effects on both phases of insulin secretion as shown with two classes of insulin secretagogs. It provides a new tool for studying physiologically relevant dynamic insulin secretion at comparably low sample-to-sample variation and high temporal resolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick M. Misun
- Bio Engineering Laboratory Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering ETH Zürich Mattenstrasse 26, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | | | - Felix Forschler
- Bio Engineering Laboratory, Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zürich, Mattenstrasse 26, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | | | - Nassim Rousset
- Bio Engineering Laboratory, Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zürich, Mattenstrasse 26, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | | | - Andreas Hierlemann
- Bio Engineering Laboratory, Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zürich, Mattenstrasse 26, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Olivier Frey
- InSphero AG Wagistrasse 27, 8952 Schlieren, Switzerland
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16
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Trujillo-de Santiago G, Flores-Garza BG, Tavares-Negrete JA, Lara-Mayorga IM, González-Gamboa I, Zhang YS, Rojas-Martínez A, Ortiz-López R, Álvarez MM. The Tumor-on-Chip: Recent Advances in the Development of Microfluidic Systems to Recapitulate the Physiology of Solid Tumors. MATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2019; 12:E2945. [PMID: 31514390 PMCID: PMC6766252 DOI: 10.3390/ma12182945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2019] [Revised: 09/03/2019] [Accepted: 09/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
The ideal in vitro recreation of the micro-tumor niche-although much needed for a better understanding of cancer etiology and development of better anticancer therapies-is highly challenging. Tumors are complex three-dimensional (3D) tissues that establish a dynamic cross-talk with the surrounding tissues through complex chemical signaling. An extensive body of experimental evidence has established that 3D culture systems more closely recapitulate the architecture and the physiology of human solid tumors when compared with traditional 2D systems. Moreover, conventional 3D culture systems fail to recreate the dynamics of the tumor niche. Tumor-on-chip systems, which are microfluidic devices that aim to recreate relevant features of the tumor physiology, have recently emerged as powerful tools in cancer research. In tumor-on-chip systems, the use of microfluidics adds another dimension of physiological mimicry by allowing a continuous feed of nutrients (and pharmaceutical compounds). Here, we discuss recently published literature related to the culture of solid tumor-like tissues in microfluidic systems (tumor-on-chip devices). Our aim is to provide the readers with an overview of the state of the art on this particular theme and to illustrate the toolbox available today for engineering tumor-like structures (and their environments) in microfluidic devices. The suitability of tumor-on-chip devices is increasing in many areas of cancer research, including the study of the physiology of solid tumors, the screening of novel anticancer pharmaceutical compounds before resourcing to animal models, and the development of personalized treatments. In the years to come, additive manufacturing (3D bioprinting and 3D printing), computational fluid dynamics, and medium- to high-throughput omics will become powerful enablers of a new wave of more sophisticated and effective tumor-on-chip devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grissel Trujillo-de Santiago
- Centro de Biotecnología-FEMSA, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Monterrey, Nuevo León CP 64849, Mexico.
- Departamento de Ingeniería Mecátrónica y Eléctrica, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Monterrey, Nuevo León CP 64849, Mexico.
| | | | | | - Itzel Montserrat Lara-Mayorga
- Centro de Biotecnología-FEMSA, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Monterrey, Nuevo León CP 64849, Mexico
- Departamento de Ingeniería Mecátrónica y Eléctrica, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Monterrey, Nuevo León CP 64849, Mexico
| | - Ivonne González-Gamboa
- Centro de Biotecnología-FEMSA, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Monterrey, Nuevo León CP 64849, Mexico
| | - Yu Shrike Zhang
- Division of Engineering in Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Augusto Rojas-Martínez
- Centro de Investigación y Transferencia en Salud, Hospital San José, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Monterrey, Nuevo León CP 64849, Mexico
| | - Rocío Ortiz-López
- Centro de Investigación y Transferencia en Salud, Hospital San José, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Monterrey, Nuevo León CP 64849, Mexico
| | - Mario Moisés Álvarez
- Centro de Biotecnología-FEMSA, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Monterrey, Nuevo León CP 64849, Mexico.
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Renggli K, Rousset N, Lohasz C, Nguyen OTP, Hierlemann A. Integrated Microphysiological Systems: Transferable Organ Models and Recirculating Flow. ADVANCED BIOSYSTEMS 2019; 3:e1900018. [PMID: 32627410 PMCID: PMC7610576 DOI: 10.1002/adbi.201900018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2019] [Revised: 02/28/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Studying and understanding of tissue and disease mechanisms largely depend on the availability of suitable and representative biological model systems. These model systems should be carefully engineered and faithfully reproduce the biological system of interest to understand physiological effects, pharmacokinetics, and toxicity to better identify new drug compounds. By relying on microfluidics, microphysiological systems (MPSs) enable the precise control of culturing conditions and connections of advanced in vitro 3D organ models that better reproduce in vivo environments. This review focuses on transferable in vitro organ models and integrated MPSs that host these transferable biological units and enable interactions between different tissue types. Interchangeable and transferrable in vitro organ models allow for independent quality control of the biological model before system assembly and building MPS assays on demand. Due to the complexity and different maturation times of individual in vitro tissues, off-chip production and quality control entail improved stability and reproducibility of the systems and results, which is important for large-scale adoption of the technology. Lastly, the technical and biological challenges and open issues for realizing and implementing integrated MPSs with transferable in vitro organ models are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kasper Renggli
- ETH Zürich, Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, Mattenstrasse 26, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
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18
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Sokolova V, Rojas-Sánchez L, Białas N, Schulze N, Epple M. Calcium phosphate nanoparticle-mediated transfection in 2D and 3D mono- and co-culture cell models. Acta Biomater 2019; 84:391-401. [PMID: 30503560 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2018.11.051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2018] [Revised: 11/25/2018] [Accepted: 11/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
The transfer of nucleic acids into living cells, i.e. transfection, is a major technique in current molecular biology and medicine. As nucleic acids alone are not able to penetrate the cell membrane, an efficient carrier is needed. Calcium phosphate nanoparticles can serve as carrier due to their biocompatibility, biodegradability and high affinity to nucleic acids like DNA or RNA. Their application was extended here from two-dimensional (2D) to three-dimensional (3D) cell culture models, including co-cultures. Compared to 2D monolayer cell cultures, a 3D culture system represents a more realistic spatial, biochemical and cellular environment. The uptake of fluorescent calcium phosphate nanoparticles (diameter 40-70 nm; cationic) was studied in 2D and 3D cell culture models by confocal laser scanning microscopy. The transfection of eGFP by calcium phosphate nanoparticles was compared in 2D and 3D cell culture, including co-cultures of green fluorescing HeLa-eGFP cells and MG-63 cells in 2D and in 3D models with the red fluorescent protein mCherry. This permitted a cell-specific assessment of the local transfection efficiency. In general, the penetration of nanoparticles into the spheroids was significantly higher than that of a model oligonucleotide carried by Lipofectamine. The transfection efficiency was comparable in 3D cell cultures with 2D cell cultures, but it occurred preferentially at the surface of the spheroids, following the uptake pathway of the nanoparticles. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Three-dimensional cell culture models can serve as a bridge between the in-vitro cell cultures and the in-vivo situation, especially when mass transfer effects have to be considered. This is the case for nanoparticles where the incubation effect in a two-dimensional cell culture strongly differs from a three-dimensional cell culture or a living tissue. We have compared the uptake of nanoparticles and a subsequent transfection of fluorescent proteins in two-dimensional and three-dimensional cell culture models. An elegant model to investigate the transfection in co-cultures was developed using HeLa-eGFP cells (green fluorescent) together with MG-63 cells (non-fluorescent) that were transfected with the red-fluorescing protein mCherry. Thereby, the transfection of both cell types in the co-culture was easily distinguished.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gongchen Sun
- School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering , Georgia Institute of Technology , Atlanta , Georgia 30332 , United States
| | - Hang Lu
- School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering , Georgia Institute of Technology , Atlanta , Georgia 30332 , United States
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20
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Lee DW, Choi N, Sung JH. A microfluidic chip with gravity-induced unidirectional flow for perfusion cell culture. Biotechnol Prog 2018; 35:e2701. [PMID: 30294886 DOI: 10.1002/btpr.2701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2017] [Revised: 07/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Perfusion flow is one of the essential elements and advantages of organ-on-a-chip technology. For example, microfluidics have enabled implementation of perfusion flow and recapitulation of fluidic environment for vascular endothelial cells. The most prevalent method of implementing flow in a chip is to use a pump, which requires elaborate manipulation and complex connections, and accompanies a large amount of dead volume. Previously we devised a gravity-induced flow system which does not require tubing connections, but this method results in bidirectional flow to enable recirculation, which is somewhat different from physiological blood flow. Here, we have developed a novel microfluidic chip that enables gravity-induced, unidirectional flow by using a bypass channel with geometry different from the main channel. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells were cultured inside the chip and the effect of flow direction was examined. © 2018 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 35: e2701, 2019.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong Wook Lee
- Dept. of Chemical Engineering, Hongik University, Seoul 04066, Republic of Korea
| | - Nakwon Choi
- Center for BioMicrosystems, Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul, South Korea
| | - Jong Hwan Sung
- Dept. of Chemical Engineering, Hongik University, Seoul 04066, Republic of Korea
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21
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Sumiyama K, Matsumoto N, Garçon-Yoshida J, Ukai H, Ueda HR, Tanaka Y. Easy and efficient production of completely embryonic-stem-cell-derived mice using a micro-aggregation device. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0203056. [PMID: 30231034 PMCID: PMC6145547 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0203056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2018] [Accepted: 08/14/2018] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
There is an increasing demand for genetically modified mice produced without crossing, for rapid phenotypic screening studies at the organismal level. For this purpose, generation of completely embryonic-stem-cell (ESC)-derived chimeric mice without crossing is now possible using a microinjection or aggregation method with 3i culture medium. However, the microinjection of ESCs into blastocyst, morula, or 8-cell-stage embryos requires a highly skilled operator. The aggregation method is an easier alternative, but the conventional aggregation protocol still requires special skills. To make the aggregation method easier and more precise, here we developed a micro-aggregation device. Unlike conventional 3-dimensional culture, which uses hanging-drop devices for aggregation, we fabricated a polystyrene funnel-like structure to smoothly drop ESCs into a small area (300-μm in diameter) at the bottom of the device. The bottom area was designed so that the surface tension of the liquid-air interface prevents the cells from falling. After aggregation, the cells can be recovered by simply exerting pressure on the liquid from the top. The microdevice can be set upon a regular 96-well plate, so it is compatible with multichannel pipette use or machine operation. Using the microdevice, we successfully obtained chimeric blastocysts, which when transplanted resulted in completely ESC-derived chimeric mice with high efficiency. By changing the number of ESCs in the aggregate, we found that the optimum number of co-cultured ESCs was around 90~120 per embryo. Under this condition, the efficiency of generating completely ESC-derived mice was the same or better than that of the injection method. These results indicated that our microdevice can be used to produce completely ESC-derived chimeric mice easily and with a high success rate, and thus represents a promising alternative to the conventional microinjection or aggregation method, especially for high-throughput, parallel experimental applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenta Sumiyama
- Laboratory for Mouse Genetic Engineering, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, 1–3 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, Japan
- * E-mail: (KS); (YT)
| | - Naomi Matsumoto
- Laboratory for Mouse Genetic Engineering, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, 1–3 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Junko Garçon-Yoshida
- Laboratory for Synthetic Biology, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, 1–3 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Hideki Ukai
- Laboratory for Synthetic Biology, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, 1–3 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Hiroki R. Ueda
- Laboratory for Synthetic Biology, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, 1–3 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, Japan
- Department of Systems Pharmacology, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- International Research Center for Neurointelligence (WPI-IRCN), The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yo Tanaka
- Laboratory for Integrated Biodevice, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, 1–3 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, Japan
- * E-mail: (KS); (YT)
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22
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Rothbauer M, Rosser JM, Zirath H, Ertl P. Tomorrow today: organ-on-a-chip advances towards clinically relevant pharmaceutical and medical in vitro models. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2018; 55:81-86. [PMID: 30189349 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2018.08.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2018] [Revised: 08/16/2018] [Accepted: 08/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Organ-on-a-chip technology offers the potential to recapitulate human physiology by keeping human cells in a precisely controlled and artificial tissue-like microenvironment. The current and potential advantages of organs-on-chips over conventional cell cultures systems and animal models have captured the attention of scientists, clinicians and policymakers as well as advocacy groups in the past few years. Recent advances in tissue engineering and stem cell research are also aiding the development of clinically relevant chip-based organ and diseases models with organ level physiology for drug screening, biomedical research and personalized medicine. Here, the latest advances in organ-on-a-chip technology are reviewed and future clinical applications discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Rothbauer
- Vienna University of Technology, Faculty of Technical Chemistry, Institute of Applied Synthetic Chemistry, Institute of Chemical Technologies and Analytics, Getreidemarkt 9/163-164, 1060 Vienna, Austria
| | - Julie M Rosser
- Vienna University of Technology, Faculty of Technical Chemistry, Institute of Applied Synthetic Chemistry, Institute of Chemical Technologies and Analytics, Getreidemarkt 9/163-164, 1060 Vienna, Austria
| | - Helene Zirath
- Vienna University of Technology, Faculty of Technical Chemistry, Institute of Applied Synthetic Chemistry, Institute of Chemical Technologies and Analytics, Getreidemarkt 9/163-164, 1060 Vienna, Austria
| | - Peter Ertl
- Vienna University of Technology, Faculty of Technical Chemistry, Institute of Applied Synthetic Chemistry, Institute of Chemical Technologies and Analytics, Getreidemarkt 9/163-164, 1060 Vienna, Austria.
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23
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24
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Aeby EA, Misun PM, Hierlemann A, Frey O. Microfluidic Hydrogel Hanging-Drop Network for Long-Term Culturing of 3D Microtissues and Simultaneous High-Resolution Imaging. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018. [DOI: 10.1002/adbi.201800054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Elise A. Aeby
- Bio Engineering Laboratory; Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering; ETH Zürich; Mattenstrasse 26 4058 Basel Switzerland
| | - Patrick M. Misun
- Bio Engineering Laboratory; Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering; ETH Zürich; Mattenstrasse 26 4058 Basel Switzerland
| | - Andreas Hierlemann
- Bio Engineering Laboratory; Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering; ETH Zürich; Mattenstrasse 26 4058 Basel Switzerland
| | - Olivier Frey
- Bio Engineering Laboratory; Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering; ETH Zürich; Mattenstrasse 26 4058 Basel Switzerland
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25
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Curto VF, Ferro MP, Mariani F, Scavetta E, Owens RM. A planar impedance sensor for 3D spheroids. LAB ON A CHIP 2018; 18:933-943. [PMID: 29459934 DOI: 10.1039/c8lc00067k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Three dimensional cell culture systems have witnessed rapid expansion in the fields of tissue engineering and drug testing owing to their inherent ability to mimic native tissue microenvironments. High throughput technologies have also facilitated rapid and reproducible generation of spheroids and subsequently their use as in vitro tissue models in drug screening platforms. However, drug screening technologies are in need of monitoring platforms to study these 3D culture models. In this work we present a novel platform to measure the electrical impedance of 3D spheroids, through the use of a planar organic electrochemical transistor (OECT) and a novel circular-shaped microtrap. A new strategy was generated to overcome incompatibility of the integration of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microdevices with OECT fabrication. The impedance platform for 3D spheroids was tested by using spheroids formed from mono-cultures of fibroblast and epithelial cells, as well as co-culture of the two cell types. We validated the platform by showing its ability to measure the spheroid resistance (Rsph) of the 3D spheroids and differences in Rsph were found to be related to the ion permeability of the spheroid. Additionally, we showed the potential use of the platform for the on-line Rsph monitoring when a co-culture spheroid was exposed to a porogenic agent affecting the integrity of the cell membrane.
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Affiliation(s)
- V F Curto
- Department of Bioelectronics, Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Mines, CMP-EMSE, MOC, 880 Avenue de Mimet, Gardanne 13541, France
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26
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Tsai HF, Trubelja A, Shen AQ, Bao G. Tumour-on-a-chip: microfluidic models of tumour morphology, growth and microenvironment. J R Soc Interface 2018. [PMID: 28637915 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2017.0137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 136] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer remains one of the leading causes of death, albeit enormous efforts to cure the disease. To overcome the major challenges in cancer therapy, we need to have a better understanding of the tumour microenvironment (TME), as well as a more effective means to screen anti-cancer drug leads; both can be achieved using advanced technologies, including the emerging tumour-on-a-chip technology. Here, we review the recent development of the tumour-on-a-chip technology, which integrates microfluidics, microfabrication, tissue engineering and biomaterials research, and offers new opportunities for building and applying functional three-dimensional in vitro human tumour models for oncology research, immunotherapy studies and drug screening. In particular, tumour-on-a-chip microdevices allow well-controlled microscopic studies of the interaction among tumour cells, immune cells and cells in the TME, of which simple tissue cultures and animal models are not amenable to do. The challenges in developing the next-generation tumour-on-a-chip technology are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hsieh-Fu Tsai
- Micro/Bio/Nanofluidics Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Onna-son, Okinawa 904-0495, Japan
| | - Alen Trubelja
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Amy Q Shen
- Micro/Bio/Nanofluidics Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Onna-son, Okinawa 904-0495, Japan
| | - Gang Bao
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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27
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Rismani Yazdi S, Nosrati R, Stevens CA, Vogel D, Davies PL, Escobedo C. Magnetotaxis Enables Magnetotactic Bacteria to Navigate in Flow. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2018; 14:1702982. [PMID: 29205792 DOI: 10.1002/smll.201702982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2017] [Revised: 09/29/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Magnetotactic bacteria (MTB) play an important role in Earth's biogeochemical cycles by transporting minerals in aquatic ecosystems, and have shown promise for controlled transport of microscale objects in flow conditions. However, how MTB traverse complex flow environments is not clear. Here, using microfluidics and high-speed imaging, it is revealed that magnetotaxis enables directed motion of Magnetospirillum magneticum over long distances in flow velocities ranging from 2 to 1260 µm s-1 , corresponding to shear rates ranging from 0.2 to 142 s-1 -a range relevant to both aquatic environments and biomedical applications. The ability of MTB to overcome a current is influenced by the flow, the magnetic field, and their relative orientation. MTB can overcome 2.3-fold higher flow velocities when directed to swim perpendicular to the flow as compared to upstream, as the latter orientation induces higher drag. The results indicate a threshold drag of 9.5 pN, corresponding to a flow velocity of 550 µm s-1 , where magnetotaxis enables MTB to overcome counterdirectional flow. These findings bring new insights into the interactions of MTB with complex flow environments relevant to aquatic ecosystems, while suggesting opportunities for in vivo applications of MTB in microbiorobotics and targeted drug delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saeed Rismani Yazdi
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, K7L 3N6, Canada
| | - Reza Nosrati
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, K7L 3N6, Canada
| | - Corey A Stevens
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, K7L 3N6, Canada
| | - David Vogel
- Swiss Nanoscience Institute, University of Basel, Basel, 4056, Switzerland
| | - Peter L Davies
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, K7L 3N6, Canada
| | - Carlos Escobedo
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, K7L 3N6, Canada
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Rothbauer M, Zirath H, Ertl P. Recent advances in microfluidic technologies for cell-to-cell interaction studies. LAB ON A CHIP 2018; 18:249-270. [PMID: 29143053 DOI: 10.1039/c7lc00815e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 178] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Microfluidic cell cultures are ideally positioned to become the next generation of in vitro diagnostic tools for biomedical research, where key biological processes such as cell signalling and dynamic cell-to-cell interactions can be reliably analysed under reproducible physiological cell culture conditions. In the last decade, a large number of microfluidic cell analysis systems have been developed for a variety of applications including drug target optimization, drug screening and toxicological testing. More recently, advanced in vitro microfluidic cell culture systems have emerged that are capable of replicating the complex three-dimensional architectures of tissues and organs and thus represent valid biological models for investigating the mechanism and function of human tissue structures, as well as studying the onset and progression of diseases such as cancer. In this review, we present the most important developments in single-cell, 2D and 3D microfluidic cell culture systems for studying cell-to-cell interactions published over the last 6 years, with a focus on cancer research and immunotherapy, vascular models and neuroscience. In addition, the current technological development of microdevices with more advanced physiological cell microenvironments that integrate multiple organ models, namely, the so-called body-, human- and multi-organ-on-a-chip, is reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Rothbauer
- Vienna University of Technology, Faculty of Technical Chemistry, Institute of Applied Synthetic Chemistry, Getreidemarkt 9, 1060 Vienna, Austria.
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29
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Abstract
The hanging-drop network (HDN) is a technology platform based on a completely open microfluidic network at the bottom of an inverted, surface-patterned substrate. The platform is predominantly used for the formation, culturing, and interaction of self-assembled spherical microtissues (spheroids) under precisely controlled flow conditions. Here, we describe design, fabrication, and operation of microfluidic hanging-drop networks.
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30
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Wang YI, Carmona C, Hickman JJ, Shuler ML. Multiorgan Microphysiological Systems for Drug Development: Strategies, Advances, and Challenges. Adv Healthc Mater 2018; 7:10.1002/adhm.201701000. [PMID: 29205920 PMCID: PMC5805562 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.201701000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2017] [Revised: 09/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Traditional cell culture and animal models utilized for preclinical drug screening have led to high attrition rates of drug candidates in clinical trials due to their low predictive power for human response. Alternative models using human cells to build in vitro biomimetics of the human body with physiologically relevant organ-organ interactions hold great potential to act as "human surrogates" and provide more accurate prediction of drug effects in humans. This review is a comprehensive investigation into the development of tissue-engineered human cell-based microscale multiorgan models, or multiorgan microphysiological systems for drug testing. The evolution from traditional models to macro- and microscale multiorgan systems is discussed in regards to the rationale for recent global efforts in multiorgan microphysiological systems. Current advances in integrating cell culture and on-chip analytical technologies, as well as proof-of-concept applications for these multiorgan microsystems are discussed. Major challenges for the field, such as reproducibility and physiological relevance, are discussed with comparisons of the strengths and weaknesses of various systems to solve these challenges. Conclusions focus on the current development stage of multiorgan microphysiological systems and new trends in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying I Wang
- Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Carlos Carmona
- NanoScience Technology Center, University of Central Florida, 12424 Research Parkway Suite 400, Orlando, FL 32826, USA
| | - James J Hickman
- NanoScience Technology Center, University of Central Florida, 12424 Research Parkway Suite 400, Orlando, FL 32826, USA
- Hesperos, Inc., 3259 Progress Dr, Room 158, Orlando, FL 32826
| | - Michael L Shuler
- Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
- Hesperos, Inc., 3259 Progress Dr, Room 158, Orlando, FL 32826
- Robert Frederick Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
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31
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Rismani Yazi S, Nosrati R, Stevens CA, Vogel D, Escobedo C. Migration of magnetotactic bacteria in porous media. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2018; 12:011101. [PMID: 29531633 PMCID: PMC5828923 DOI: 10.1063/1.5024508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2018] [Accepted: 02/19/2018] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
Magnetotactic bacteria (MTB) migrate in complex porous sediments where fluid flow is ubiquitous. Here, we demonstrate that magnetotaxis enables MTB to migrate effectively through porous micromodels. Directed MTB can circumvent curved obstacles by traveling along the boundaries and pass flat obstacles by repeatedly switching between forward and backward runs. Magnetotaxis enables directed motion of MTB through heterogeneous porous media, overcoming tortuous flow fields with local velocities as high as 250 μm s-1. Our findings bring new insights into the migration behaviour of MTB in their natural habitats and their potential in vivo applications as microbiorobots.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saeed Rismani Yazi
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario K7L 3N6, Canada
| | - Reza Nosrati
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario K7L 3N6, Canada
| | - Corey A. Stevens
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario K7L 3N6, Canada
| | - David Vogel
- Swiss Nanoscience Institute, University of Basel, Basel 4056, Switzerland
| | - Carlos Escobedo
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario K7L 3N6, Canada
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32
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Jackson-Holmes EL, McDevitt TC, Lu H. A microfluidic trap array for longitudinal monitoring and multi-modal phenotypic analysis of individual stem cell aggregates. LAB ON A CHIP 2017; 17:3634-3642. [PMID: 28952622 PMCID: PMC5656523 DOI: 10.1039/c7lc00763a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Three-dimensional pluripotent stem cell (PSC) cultures have the ability to undergo differentiation, self-organization, and morphogenesis to yield complex, in vitro tissue models that recapitulate key elements of native tissues. These tissue models offer a system for studying mechanisms of tissue development, investigating disease mechanisms, and performing drug screening. It remains challenging, however, to standardize PSC aggregate differentiation and morphogenesis methods due to heterogeneity stemming from biological and environmental sources. It is also difficult to monitor and assess large numbers of individual samples longitudinally throughout culture using typical batch-based culture methods. To address these challenges, we have developed a microfluidic platform for culture, longitudinal monitoring, and phenotypic analysis of individual stem cell aggregates. This platform uses a hydrodynamic loading principle to capture pre-formed stem cell aggregates in independent traps. We demonstrated that multi-day culture of aggregates in this platform reduces heterogeneity in phenotypic parameters such as size and morphology. Additionally, we showed that culture and analysis steps can be performed sequentially in the same platform, enabling correlation of multiple modes of analysis for individual samples. We anticipate this platform being applied to improve abilities for phenotypic analysis of PSC aggregate tissues and to facilitate research in standardizing culture systems in order to dually increase the yield and reduce the heterogeneity of PSC-derived tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- E L Jackson-Holmes
- School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA.
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33
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Ran R, Sun Q, Baby T, Wibowo D, Middelberg AP, Zhao CX. Multiphase microfluidic synthesis of micro- and nanostructures for pharmaceutical applications. Chem Eng Sci 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ces.2017.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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Abstract
To curb the high cost of drug development, there is an urgent need to develop more predictive tissue models using human cells to determine drug efficacy and safety in advance of clinical testing. Recent insights gained through fundamental biological studies have validated the importance of dynamic cell environments and cellular communication to the expression of high fidelity organ function. Building on this knowledge, emerging organ-on-a-chip technology is poised to fill the gaps in drug screening by offering predictive human tissue models with methods of sophisticated tissue assembly. Organ-on-a-chip start-ups have begun to spawn from academic research to fill this commercial space and are attracting investment to transform the drug discovery industry. This review traces the history, examines the scientific foundation and envisages the prospect of these renowned organ-on-a-chip technologies. It serves as a guide for new members of this dynamic field to navigate the existing scientific and market space.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boyang Zhang
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
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35
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Junaid A, Mashaghi A, Hankemeier T, Vulto P. An end-user perspective on Organ-on-a-Chip: Assays and usability aspects. CURRENT OPINION IN BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cobme.2017.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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36
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Chen Y, Chan HN, Michael SA, Shen Y, Chen Y, Tian Q, Huang L, Wu H. A microfluidic circulatory system integrated with capillary-assisted pressure sensors. LAB ON A CHIP 2017; 17:653-662. [PMID: 28112765 DOI: 10.1039/c6lc01427e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
The human circulatory system comprises a complex network of blood vessels interconnecting biologically relevant organs and a heart driving blood recirculation throughout this system. Recreating this system in vitro would act as a bridge between organ-on-a-chip and "body-on-a-chip" and advance the development of in vitro models. Here, we present a microfluidic circulatory system integrated with an on-chip pressure sensor to closely mimic human systemic circulation in vitro. A cardiac-like on-chip pumping system is incorporated in the device. It consists of four pumping units and passive check valves, which mimic the four heart chambers and heart valves, respectively. Each pumping unit is independently controlled with adjustable pressure and pump rate, enabling users to control the mimicked blood pressure and heartbeat rate within the device. A check valve is located downstream of each pumping unit to prevent backward leakage. Pulsatile and unidirectional flow can be generated to recirculate within the device by programming the four pumping units. We also report an on-chip capillary-assisted pressure sensor to monitor the pressure inside the device. One end of the capillary was placed in the measurement region, while the other end was sealed. Time-dependent pressure changes were measured by recording the movement of the liquid-gas interface in the capillary and calculating the pressure using the ideal gas law. The sensor covered the physiologically relevant blood pressure range found in humans (0-142.5 mmHg) and could respond to 0.2 s actuation time. With the aid of the sensor, the pressure inside the device could be adjusted to the desired range. As a proof of concept, human normal left ventricular and arterial pressure profiles were mimicked inside this device. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were cultured on chip and cells can respond to mechanical forces generated by arterial-like flow patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yangfan Chen
- Department of Chemistry, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China.
| | - Ho Nam Chan
- Department of Chemistry, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China.
| | - Sean A Michael
- Department of Chemistry, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China.
| | - Yusheng Shen
- Division of Biomedical Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yin Chen
- Division of Biomedical Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China
| | - Qian Tian
- Department of Chemistry, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China.
| | - Lu Huang
- Department of Chemistry, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China.
| | - Hongkai Wu
- Department of Chemistry, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China. and Division of Biomedical Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China and HKUST Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, China
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37
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Zuppinger C. Edge-Detection for Contractility Measurements with Cardiac Spheroids. METHODS IN PHARMACOLOGY AND TOXICOLOGY 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-6661-5_11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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38
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Bürgel SC, Diener L, Frey O, Kim JY, Hierlemann A. Automated, Multiplexed Electrical Impedance Spectroscopy Platform for Continuous Monitoring of Microtissue Spheroids. Anal Chem 2016; 88:10876-10883. [PMID: 27650426 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.6b01410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Microtissue spheroids in microfluidic devices are increasingly used to establish novel in vitro organ models of the human body. As the spheroids are comparably sizable, it is difficult to monitor larger numbers of them by optical means. Therefore, electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) emerges as a viable alternative to probing spheroid properties. Current spheroid EIS systems are, however, not suitable for investigating multiple spheroids in parallel over extended time in an automated fashion. Here we address this issue by presenting an automated, multiplexed EIS (AMEIS) platform for impedance analysis in a microfluidic setting. The system was used to continuously monitor the effect of the anticancer drug fluorouracil (5-FU) on HCT116 cancer spheroids. Simultaneous EIS monitoring of up to 15 spheroids was performed in parallel over 4 days at a temporal resolution of 2 min without any need for pumps. The measurements were continuous in nature, and the setup was kept in a standard incubator under controlled conditions during the measurements. A baseline normalization method to improve robustness and to reduce the influence of slow changes in the medium conductivity on the spheroid EIS readings has been developed and validated by experiments and means of a finite-element model. The same method and platform was then used for online monitoring of cardiac spheroids. The beating frequency of each cardiac spheroid could be read out in a completely automated fashion. The developed system constitutes a promising method for simultaneously evaluating drug impact and/or toxic effects on multiple microtissue spheroids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian C Bürgel
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zurich , Mattenstrasse 26, Basel 4058, Switzerland
| | - Laurin Diener
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zurich , Mattenstrasse 26, Basel 4058, Switzerland
| | - Olivier Frey
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zurich , Mattenstrasse 26, Basel 4058, Switzerland
| | - Jin-Young Kim
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zurich , Mattenstrasse 26, Basel 4058, Switzerland
| | - Andreas Hierlemann
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zurich , Mattenstrasse 26, Basel 4058, Switzerland
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39
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Rezaei Kolahchi A, Khadem Mohtaram N, Pezeshgi Modarres H, Mohammadi MH, Geraili A, Jafari P, Akbari M, Sanati-Nezhad A. Microfluidic-Based Multi-Organ Platforms for Drug Discovery. MICROMACHINES 2016; 7:E162. [PMID: 30404334 PMCID: PMC6189912 DOI: 10.3390/mi7090162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2016] [Revised: 08/23/2016] [Accepted: 08/24/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Development of predictive multi-organ models before implementing costly clinical trials is central for screening the toxicity, efficacy, and side effects of new therapeutic agents. Despite significant efforts that have been recently made to develop biomimetic in vitro tissue models, the clinical application of such platforms is still far from reality. Recent advances in physiologically-based pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic (PBPK-PD) modeling, micro- and nanotechnology, and in silico modeling have enabled single- and multi-organ platforms for investigation of new chemical agents and tissue-tissue interactions. This review provides an overview of the principles of designing microfluidic-based organ-on-chip models for drug testing and highlights current state-of-the-art in developing predictive multi-organ models for studying the cross-talk of interconnected organs. We further discuss the challenges associated with establishing a predictive body-on-chip (BOC) model such as the scaling, cell types, the common medium, and principles of the study design for characterizing the interaction of drugs with multiple targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Rezaei Kolahchi
- BioMEMS and Bioinspired Microfluidic Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada.
| | - Nima Khadem Mohtaram
- Laboratory for Innovations in MicroEngineering (LiME), Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8P 5C2, Canada.
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8P 5C2, Canada.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA.
| | - Hassan Pezeshgi Modarres
- BioMEMS and Bioinspired Microfluidic Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada.
| | - Mohammad Hossein Mohammadi
- Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Azadi Ave., Tehran 11155-9516, Iran.
| | - Armin Geraili
- Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Azadi Ave., Tehran 11155-9516, Iran.
| | - Parya Jafari
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Azadi Ave., Tehran 11155-9516, Iran.
| | - Mohsen Akbari
- Laboratory for Innovations in MicroEngineering (LiME), Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8P 5C2, Canada.
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8P 5C2, Canada.
| | - Amir Sanati-Nezhad
- BioMEMS and Bioinspired Microfluidic Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada.
- Center for Bioengineering Research and Education, Biomedical Engineering Program, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada.
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40
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Marx U, Andersson TB, Bahinski A, Beilmann M, Beken S, Cassee FR, Cirit M, Daneshian M, Fitzpatrick S, Frey O, Gaertner C, Giese C, Griffith L, Hartung T, Heringa MB, Hoeng J, de Jong WH, Kojima H, Kuehnl J, Luch A, Maschmeyer I, Sakharov D, Sips AJAM, Steger-Hartmann T, Tagle DA, Tonevitsky A, Tralau T, Tsyb S, van de Stolpe A, Vandebriel R, Vulto P, Wang J, Wiest J, Rodenburg M, Roth A. Biology-inspired microphysiological system approaches to solve the prediction dilemma of substance testing. ALTEX 2016; 33:272-321. [PMID: 27180100 PMCID: PMC5396467 DOI: 10.14573/altex.1603161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2016] [Accepted: 05/11/2016] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
The recent advent of microphysiological systems - microfluidic biomimetic devices that aspire to emulate the biology of human tissues, organs and circulation in vitro - is envisaged to enable a global paradigm shift in drug development. An extraordinary US governmental initiative and various dedicated research programs in Europe and Asia have led recently to the first cutting-edge achievements of human single-organ and multi-organ engineering based on microphysiological systems. The expectation is that test systems established on this basis would model various disease stages, and predict toxicity, immunogenicity, ADME profiles and treatment efficacy prior to clinical testing. Consequently, this technology could significantly affect the way drug substances are developed in the future. Furthermore, microphysiological system-based assays may revolutionize our current global programs of prioritization of hazard characterization for any new substances to be used, for example, in agriculture, food, ecosystems or cosmetics, thus, replacing laboratory animal models used currently. Thirty-six experts from academia, industry and regulatory bodies present here the results of an intensive workshop (held in June 2015, Berlin, Germany). They review the status quo of microphysiological systems available today against industry needs, and assess the broad variety of approaches with fit-for-purpose potential in the drug development cycle. Feasible technical solutions to reach the next levels of human biology in vitro are proposed. Furthermore, key organ-on-a-chip case studies, as well as various national and international programs are highlighted. Finally, a roadmap into the future is outlined, to allow for more predictive and regulatory-accepted substance testing on a global scale.
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