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Kaminaga M, Otomo S, Tsunozaki S, Kadonosono T, Omata T. Fabrication of a Cancer Cell Aggregate Culture Device That Facilitates Observations of Nutrient and Oxygen Gradients. MICROMACHINES 2024; 15:689. [PMID: 38930659 PMCID: PMC11205477 DOI: 10.3390/mi15060689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2024] [Revised: 05/18/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
Three-dimensional cell culture spheroids are commonly used for drug evaluation studies because they can produce large quantities of homogeneous cell aggregates. As the spheroids grow, nutrients supplied from outer spheroid regions render the inner spheroid areas hypoxic and hyponutrient, which makes them unobservable through confocal microscopy. In this study, we fabricated a cancer cell aggregate culture device that facilitates the observation of nutrient and oxygen gradients. An alginate gel fiber was created in the cell culture chamber to ensure a flow path for supplying the culture medium. A gradient of nutrients and oxygen was generated by positioning the flow channel close to the edge of the chamber. We devised a fabrication method that uses calcium carbonate as a source of Ca2+ for the gelation of sodium alginate, which has a slow reaction rate. We then cultured a spheroid of HCT116 cells, which were derived from human colorectal carcinoma using a fluorescent ubiquitination-based cell cycle indicator. Fluorescence observation suggested the formation of a hypoxic and hyponutrient region within an area approximately 500 µm away from the alginate gel fiber. This indicates the development of a cancer cell aggregate culture device that enables the observation of different nutrition and oxygen states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maho Kaminaga
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Toyota Campus, 2-1 Eisei-cho, Toyota 471-0067, Aichi, Japan
| | - Shuta Otomo
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsuta-cho, Midori ku, Yokohama 226-0026, Kanagawa, Japan (T.O.)
| | - Seisyu Tsunozaki
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsuta-cho, Midori ku, Yokohama 226-0026, Kanagawa, Japan (T.O.)
| | - Tetuya Kadonosono
- Department of Life Science & Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsuta-cho, Midori ku, Yokohama 226-0026, Kanagawa, Japan;
| | - Toru Omata
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsuta-cho, Midori ku, Yokohama 226-0026, Kanagawa, Japan (T.O.)
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2
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Li L, Bo W, Wang G, Juan X, Xue H, Zhang H. Progress and application of lung-on-a-chip for lung cancer. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2024; 12:1378299. [PMID: 38854856 PMCID: PMC11157020 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2024.1378299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Lung cancer is a malignant tumour with the highest incidence and mortality worldwide. Clinically effective therapy strategies are underutilized owing to the lack of efficient models for evaluating drug response. One of the main reasons for failure of anticancer drug therapy is development of drug resistance. Anticancer drugs face severe challenges such as poor biodistribution, restricted solubility, inadequate absorption, and drug accumulation. In recent years, "organ-on-a-chip" platforms, which can directly regulate the microenvironment of biomechanics, biochemistry and pathophysiology, have been developed rapidly and have shown great potential in clinical drug research. Lung-on-a-chip (LOC) is a new 3D model of bionic lungs with physiological functions created by micromachining technology on microfluidic chips. This approach may be able to partially replace animal and 2D cell culture models. To overcome drug resistance, LOC realizes personalized prediction of drug response by simulating the lung-related microenvironment in vitro, significantly enhancing therapeutic effectiveness, bioavailability, and pharmacokinetics while minimizing side effects. In this review, we present an overview of recent advances in the preparation of LOC and contrast it with earlier in vitro models. Finally, we describe recent advances in LOC. The combination of this technology with nanomedicine will provide an accurate and reliable treatment for preclinical evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lantao Li
- Department of Anesthesiology, Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sichuan Cancer Hospital and Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Wentao Bo
- Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sichuan Cancer Hospital and Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Guangyan Wang
- Department of General Internal Medicine, Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sichuan Cancer Hospital and Institute, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Xin Juan
- Department of Anesthesiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Haiyi Xue
- Department of Intensive Care Unit, Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sichuan Cancer Hospital and Institute, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Hongwei Zhang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sichuan Cancer Hospital and Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
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Yang H, Chen T, Hu Y, Niu F, Zheng X, Sun H, Cheng L, Sun L. A microfluidic platform integrating dynamic cell culture and dielectrophoretic manipulation for in situ assessment of endothelial cell mechanics. LAB ON A CHIP 2023; 23:3581-3592. [PMID: 37417786 DOI: 10.1039/d3lc00363a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/08/2023]
Abstract
The function of vascular endothelial cells (ECs) within the complex vascular microenvironment is typically modulated by biochemical cues, cell-cell interactions, and fluid shear stress. These regulatory factors play a crucial role in determining cell mechanical properties, such as elastic and shear moduli, which are important parameters for assessing cell status. However, most studies on the measurement of cell mechanical properties have been conducted in vitro, which is labor-intensive and time-consuming. Notably, many physiological factors are lacking in Petri dish culture compared with in vivo conditions, leading to inaccurate results and poor clinical relevance. Herein, we developed a multi-layer microfluidic chip that integrates dynamic cell culture, manipulation and dielectrophoretic in situ measurement of mechanical properties. Furthermore, we numerically and experimentally simulated the vascular microenvironment to investigate the effects of flow rate and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) on the Young's modulus of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Results showed that greater fluid shear stress results in increased Young's modulus of HUVECs, suggesting the importance of hemodynamics in modulating the biomechanics of ECs. In contrast, TNF-α, an inflammation inducer, dramatically decreased HUVEC stiffness, demonstrating an adverse impact on the vascular endothelium. Blebbistatin, a cytoskeleton disruptor, significantly reduced the Young's modulus of HUVECs. In summary, the proposed vascular-mimetic dynamic culture and monitoring approach enables the physiological development of ECs in organ-on-a-chip microsystems for accurately and efficiently studying hemodynamics and pharmacological mechanisms underlying cardiovascular diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Yang
- Robotics and Microsystems Center, College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Soochow University, Suzhou 215000, China.
| | - Tao Chen
- Robotics and Microsystems Center, College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Soochow University, Suzhou 215000, China.
| | - Yichong Hu
- Robotics and Microsystems Center, College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Soochow University, Suzhou 215000, China.
| | - Fuzhou Niu
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou 215000, China
| | - Xinyu Zheng
- Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Haizhen Sun
- Robotics and Microsystems Center, College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Soochow University, Suzhou 215000, China.
| | - Liang Cheng
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology, Soochow University, Suzhou 215000, China
| | - Lining Sun
- Robotics and Microsystems Center, College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Soochow University, Suzhou 215000, China.
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Mu X, Gerhard-Herman MD, Zhang YS. Building Blood Vessel Chips with Enhanced Physiological Relevance. ADVANCED MATERIALS TECHNOLOGIES 2023; 8:2201778. [PMID: 37693798 PMCID: PMC10489284 DOI: 10.1002/admt.202201778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
Blood vessel chips are bioengineered microdevices, consisting of biomaterials, human cells, and microstructures, which recapitulate essential vascular structure and physiology and allow a well-controlled microenvironment and spatial-temporal readouts. Blood vessel chips afford promising opportunities to understand molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying a range of vascular diseases. The physiological relevance is key to these blood vessel chips that rely on bioinspired strategies and bioengineering approaches to translate vascular physiology into artificial units. Here, we discuss several critical aspects of vascular physiology, including morphology, material composition, mechanical properties, flow dynamics, and mass transport, which provide essential guidelines and a valuable source of bioinspiration for the rational design of blood vessel chips. We also review state-of-art blood vessel chips that exhibit important physiological features of the vessel and reveal crucial insights into the biological processes and disease pathogenesis, including rare diseases, with notable implications for drug screening and clinical trials. We envision that the advances in biomaterials, biofabrication, and stem cells improve the physiological relevance of blood vessel chips, which, along with the close collaborations between clinicians and bioengineers, enable their widespread utility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuan Mu
- Division of Engineering in Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Roy J. Carver Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Marie Denise Gerhard-Herman
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Yu Shrike Zhang
- Division of Engineering in Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
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Veliz DS, Lin KL, Sahlgren C. Organ-on-a-chip technologies for biomedical research and drug development: A focus on the vasculature. SMART MEDICINE 2023; 2:e20220030. [PMID: 37089706 PMCID: PMC7614466 DOI: 10.1002/smmd.20220030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/25/2023]
Abstract
Current biomedical models fail to replicate the complexity of human biology. Consequently, almost 90% of drug candidates fail during clinical trials after decades of research and billions of investments in drug development. Despite their physiological similarities, animal models often misrepresent human responses, and instead, trigger ethical and societal debates regarding their use. The overall aim across regulatory entities worldwide is to replace, reduce, and refine the use of animal experimentation, a concept known as the Three Rs principle. In response, researchers develop experimental alternatives to improve the biological relevance of in vitro models through interdisciplinary approaches. This article highlights the emerging organ-on-a-chip technologies, also known as microphysiological systems, with a focus on models of the vasculature. The cardiovascular system transports all necessary substances, including drugs, throughout the body while in charge of thermal regulation and communication between other organ systems. In addition, we discuss the benefits, limitations, and challenges in the widespread use of new biomedical models. Coupled with patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells, organ-on-a-chip technologies are the future of drug discovery, development, and personalized medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diosangeles Soto Veliz
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, Cell Biology, Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland
- InFLAMES Research Flagship Center, Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland
- Turku Bioscience Center, Åbo Akademi University and University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Kai-Lan Lin
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, Cell Biology, Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland
- InFLAMES Research Flagship Center, Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland
- Turku Bioscience Center, Åbo Akademi University and University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Cecilia Sahlgren
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, Cell Biology, Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland
- InFLAMES Research Flagship Center, Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland
- Turku Bioscience Center, Åbo Akademi University and University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, the Netherlands
- Institute for Complex Molecular Systems (ICMS), Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, the Netherlands
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Zommiti M, Connil N, Tahrioui A, Groboillot A, Barbey C, Konto-Ghiorghi Y, Lesouhaitier O, Chevalier S, Feuilloley MGJ. Organs-on-Chips Platforms Are Everywhere: A Zoom on Biomedical Investigation. Bioengineering (Basel) 2022; 9:646. [PMID: 36354557 PMCID: PMC9687856 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering9110646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2022] [Revised: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 08/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Over the decades, conventional in vitro culture systems and animal models have been used to study physiology, nutrient or drug metabolisms including mechanical and physiopathological aspects. However, there is an urgent need for Integrated Testing Strategies (ITS) and more sophisticated platforms and devices to approach the real complexity of human physiology and provide reliable extrapolations for clinical investigations and personalized medicine. Organ-on-a-chip (OOC), also known as a microphysiological system, is a state-of-the-art microfluidic cell culture technology that sums up cells or tissue-to-tissue interfaces, fluid flows, mechanical cues, and organ-level physiology, and it has been developed to fill the gap between in vitro experimental models and human pathophysiology. The wide range of OOC platforms involves the miniaturization of cell culture systems and enables a variety of novel experimental techniques. These range from modeling the independent effects of biophysical forces on cells to screening novel drugs in multi-organ microphysiological systems, all within microscale devices. As in living biosystems, the development of vascular structure is the salient feature common to almost all organ-on-a-chip platforms. Herein, we provide a snapshot of this fast-evolving sophisticated technology. We will review cutting-edge developments and advances in the OOC realm, discussing current applications in the biomedical field with a detailed description of how this technology has enabled the reconstruction of complex multi-scale and multifunctional matrices and platforms (at the cellular and tissular levels) leading to an acute understanding of the physiopathological features of human ailments and infections in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed Zommiti
- Research Unit Bacterial Communication and Anti-infectious Strategies (CBSA, UR4312), University of Rouen Normandie, 27000 Evreux, France
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Marc G. J. Feuilloley
- Research Unit Bacterial Communication and Anti-infectious Strategies (CBSA, UR4312), University of Rouen Normandie, 27000 Evreux, France
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Boonyaphon K, Li Z, Kim SJ. Gravity-driven preprogrammed microfluidic recirculation system for parallel biosensing of cell behaviors. Anal Chim Acta 2022; 1233:340456. [DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2022.340456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Revised: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
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Campisi M, Shelton SE, Chen M, Kamm RD, Barbie DA, Knelson EH. Engineered Microphysiological Systems for Testing Effectiveness of Cell-Based Cancer Immunotherapies. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:3561. [PMID: 35892819 PMCID: PMC9330888 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14153561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Revised: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/16/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Cell therapies, including adoptive immune cell therapies and genetically engineered chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T or NK cells, have shown promise in treating hematologic malignancies. Yet, immune cell infiltration and expansion has proven challenging in solid tumors due to immune cell exclusion and exhaustion and the presence of vascular barriers. Testing next-generation immune therapies remains challenging in animals, motivating sophisticated ex vivo models of human tumor biology and prognostic assays to predict treatment response in real-time while comprehensively recapitulating the human tumor immune microenvironment (TIME). This review examines current strategies for testing cell-based cancer immunotherapies using ex vivo microphysiological systems and microfluidic technologies. Insights into the multicellular interactions of the TIME will identify novel therapeutic strategies to help patients whose tumors are refractory or resistant to current immunotherapies. Altogether, these microphysiological systems (MPS) have the capability to predict therapeutic vulnerabilities and biological barriers while studying immune cell infiltration and killing in a more physiologically relevant context, thereby providing important insights into fundamental biologic mechanisms to expand our understanding of and treatments for currently incurable malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Campisi
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02115, USA; (M.C.); (S.E.S.); (M.C.); (D.A.B.)
| | - Sarah E. Shelton
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02115, USA; (M.C.); (S.E.S.); (M.C.); (D.A.B.)
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA;
| | - Minyue Chen
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02115, USA; (M.C.); (S.E.S.); (M.C.); (D.A.B.)
- Department of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Roger D. Kamm
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA;
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - David A. Barbie
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02115, USA; (M.C.); (S.E.S.); (M.C.); (D.A.B.)
| | - Erik H. Knelson
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02115, USA; (M.C.); (S.E.S.); (M.C.); (D.A.B.)
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Hou T, Ren Y, Chan Y, Wang J, Yan Y. Flow‐induced shear stress and deformation of a core–shell‐structured microcapsule in a microchannel. Electrophoresis 2022; 43:1993-2004. [DOI: 10.1002/elps.202100274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Revised: 06/12/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Tuo Hou
- Research Group for Fluids and Thermal Engineering University of Nottingham Ningbo China Ningbo P. R. China
- Department of Mechanical Materials and Manufacturing Engineering University of Nottingham Ningbo China Ningbo P. R. China
| | - Yong Ren
- Research Group for Fluids and Thermal Engineering University of Nottingham Ningbo China Ningbo P. R. China
- Department of Mechanical Materials and Manufacturing Engineering University of Nottingham Ningbo China Ningbo P. R. China
- Key Laboratory of Carbonaceous Wastes Processing and Process Intensification Research of Zhejiang Province University of Nottingham Ningbo China Ningbo P. R. China
| | - Yue Chan
- Institute for Advanced Study Shenzhen University Shenzhen P. R. China
| | - Jing Wang
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering University of Nottingham Ningbo China Ningbo P. R. China
- Key Laboratory of More Electric Aircraft Technology of Zhejiang Province University of Nottingham Ningbo China Ningbo P. R. China
| | - Yuying Yan
- Faculty of Engineering University of Nottingham University Park Nottingham UK
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Zhang J, Tavakoli H, Ma L, Li X, Han L, Li X. Immunotherapy discovery on tumor organoid-on-a-chip platforms that recapitulate the tumor microenvironment. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2022; 187:114365. [PMID: 35667465 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2022.114365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2022] [Revised: 04/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Cancer immunotherapy has achieved remarkable success over the past decade by modulating patients' own immune systems and unleashing pre-existing immunity. However, only a minority of cancer patients across different cancer types are able to benefit from immunotherapy treatment; moreover, among those small portions of patients with response, intrinsic and acquired resistance remains a persistent challenge. Because the tumor microenvironment (TME) is well recognized to play a critical role in tumor initiation, progression, metastasis, and the suppression of the immune system and responses to immunotherapy, understanding the interactions between the TME and the immune system is a pivotal step in developing novel and efficient cancer immunotherapies. With unique features such as low reagent consumption, dynamic and precise fluid control, versatile structures and function designs, and 3D cell co-culture, microfluidic tumor organoid-on-a-chip platforms that recapitulate key factors of the TME and the immune contexture have emerged as innovative reliable tools to investigate how tumors regulate their TME to counteract antitumor immunity and the mechanism of tumor resistance to immunotherapy. In this comprehensive review, we focus on recent advances in tumor organoid-on-a-chip platforms for studying the interaction between the TME and the immune system. We first review different factors of the TME that recent microfluidic in vitro systems reproduce to generate advanced tools to imitate the crosstalk between the TME and the immune system. Then, we discuss their applications in the assessment of different immunotherapies' efficacy using tumor organoid-on-a-chip platforms. Finally, we present an overview and the outlook of engineered microfluidic platforms in investigating the interactions between cancer and immune systems, and the adoption of patient-on-a-chip models in clinical applications toward personalized immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Texas at El Paso, 500 W University Ave., El Paso, TX 79968, USA
| | - Hamed Tavakoli
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Texas at El Paso, 500 W University Ave., El Paso, TX 79968, USA
| | - Lei Ma
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Texas at El Paso, 500 W University Ave., El Paso, TX 79968, USA
| | - Xiaochun Li
- College of Biomedical Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan 030024, China
| | - Lichun Han
- Xi'an Daxing Hospital, Xi'an 710016, China
| | - XiuJun Li
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Texas at El Paso, 500 W University Ave., El Paso, TX 79968, USA; Border Biomedical Research Center, Forensic Science, & Environmental Science and Engineering, University of Texas at El Paso, 500 West University Ave., El Paso, TX 79968, USA.
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11
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Fritschen A, Bell AK, Königstein I, Stühn L, Stark RW, Blaeser A. Investigation and comparison of resin materials in transparent DLP-printing for application in cell culture and organs-on-a-chip. Biomater Sci 2022; 10:1981-1994. [PMID: 35262097 DOI: 10.1039/d1bm01794b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Organs-on-a-Chip (OOCs) have recently led to major discoveries and a better understanding of 3D cell organization, cell-cell interactions and tissue response to drugs and biological cues. However, their complexity and variability are still limited by the available fabrication technology. Transparent, cytocompatible and high-resolution 3D-printing could overcome these limitations, offering a flexible and low-cost alternative to soft lithography. Many advances have been made in stereolithography printing regarding resin formulation and the general printing process, but a systematic analysis of the printing process steps, employed resins and post-treatment procedures with a strong focus on the requirements in OOCs is missing. To fill this gap, this work provides an in-depth analysis of three different resin systems in comparison to polystyrene (PS) and poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS), which can be considered the gold-standards in cell culture and microfluidics. The resins were characterized with respect to transparency, cytocompatibility and print resolution. These properties are not only governed by the resin composition, but additionally by the post-treatment procedure. The investigation of the mechanical (elastic modulus ∼2.2 GPa) and wetting properties (∼60° native / 20° plasma treated) showed a behavior very similar to PS. In addition, the absorbance of small molecules was two orders of magnitude lower in the applied resins (diffusion constant ∼0.01 μm2 s-1) than for PDMS (2.5 μm2 s-1), demonstrating the intrinsic suitability of these materials for OOCs. Raman spectroscopy and UV/VIS spectrophotometry revealed that post-treatment increased monomer conversion up to 2 times and removed photo initiator residues, leading to an increased transparency of up to 50% and up to 10-times higher cell viability. High magnification fluorescence imaging of HUVECs and L929 cells cultivated on printed dishes shows the high optical qualities of prints fabricated by the Digital Light Processing (DLP) printer. Finally, components of microfluidic chips such as high-aspect ratio pillars and holes with a diameter of 50 μm were printed. Concluding, the suitability of DLP-printing for OOCs was demonstrated by filling a printed chip with a cell-hydrogel mixture using a microvalve bioprinter, followed by the successful cultivation under perfusion. Our results highlight that DLP-printing has matured into a robust fabrication technology ready for application in extensive and versatile OOC research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Fritschen
- Technical University of Darmstadt, Department of Mechanical Engineering, BioMedical Printing Technology, Magdalenenstr. 2, 64289 Darmstadt, Germany.
| | - Alena K Bell
- Technical University of Darmstadt, Institute of Materials Science, Physics of Surfaces, Alarich-Weiss-Str. 16, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Inga Königstein
- Technical University of Darmstadt, Department of Mechanical Engineering, BioMedical Printing Technology, Magdalenenstr. 2, 64289 Darmstadt, Germany.
| | - Lukas Stühn
- Technical University of Darmstadt, Institute of Materials Science, Physics of Surfaces, Alarich-Weiss-Str. 16, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Robert W Stark
- Technical University of Darmstadt, Institute of Materials Science, Physics of Surfaces, Alarich-Weiss-Str. 16, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Andreas Blaeser
- Technical University of Darmstadt, Department of Mechanical Engineering, BioMedical Printing Technology, Magdalenenstr. 2, 64289 Darmstadt, Germany. .,Technical University of Darmstadt, Centre for Synthetic Biology, Schnittspahnstr. 10, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany
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Caballero D, Reis RL, Kundu SC. Current Trends in Microfluidics and Biosensors for Cancer Research Applications. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2022; 1379:81-112. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-04039-9_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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13
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Kundu B, Caballero D, Abreu CM, Reis RL, Kundu SC. The Tumor Microenvironment: An Introduction to the Development of Microfluidic Devices. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2022; 1379:115-138. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-04039-9_5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
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14
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Caballero D, Abreu CM, Lima AC, Neves NN, Reis RL, Kundu SC. Precision biomaterials in cancer theranostics and modelling. Biomaterials 2021; 280:121299. [PMID: 34871880 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2021.121299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Revised: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Despite significant achievements in the understanding and treatment of cancer, it remains a major burden. Traditional therapeutic approaches based on the 'one-size-fits-all' paradigm are becoming obsolete, as demonstrated by the increasing number of patients failing to respond to treatments. In contrast, more precise approaches based on individualized genetic profiling of tumors have already demonstrated their potential. However, even more personalized treatments display shortcomings mainly associated with systemic delivery, such as low local drug efficacy or specificity. A large amount of effort is currently being invested in developing precision medicine-based strategies for improving the efficiency of cancer theranostics and modelling, which are envisioned to be more accurate, standardized, localized, and less expensive. To this end, interdisciplinary research fields, such as biomedicine, material sciences, pharmacology, chemistry, tissue engineering, and nanotechnology, must converge for boosting the precision cancer ecosystem. In this regard, precision biomaterials have emerged as a promising strategy to detect, model, and treat cancer more efficiently. These are defined as those biomaterials precisely engineered with specific theranostic functions and bioactive components, with the possibility to be tailored to the cancer patient needs, thus having a vast potential in the increasing demand for more efficient treatments. In this review, we discuss the latest advances in the field of precision biomaterials in cancer research, which are expected to revolutionize disease management, focusing on their uses for cancer modelling, detection, and therapeutic applications. We finally comment on the needed requirements to accelerate their application in the clinic to improve cancer patient prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Caballero
- 3B's Research Group, I3Bs - Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, AvePark, Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia, Zona Industrial da Gandra, Barco, 4805-017, Guimarães, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal.
| | - Catarina M Abreu
- 3B's Research Group, I3Bs - Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, AvePark, Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia, Zona Industrial da Gandra, Barco, 4805-017, Guimarães, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Ana C Lima
- 3B's Research Group, I3Bs - Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, AvePark, Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia, Zona Industrial da Gandra, Barco, 4805-017, Guimarães, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Nuno N Neves
- 3B's Research Group, I3Bs - Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, AvePark, Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia, Zona Industrial da Gandra, Barco, 4805-017, Guimarães, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Rui L Reis
- 3B's Research Group, I3Bs - Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, AvePark, Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia, Zona Industrial da Gandra, Barco, 4805-017, Guimarães, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Subhas C Kundu
- 3B's Research Group, I3Bs - Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, AvePark, Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia, Zona Industrial da Gandra, Barco, 4805-017, Guimarães, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal.
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15
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Chung SW, Xie Y, Suk JS. Overcoming physical stromal barriers to cancer immunotherapy. Drug Deliv Transl Res 2021; 11:2430-2447. [PMID: 34351575 PMCID: PMC8571040 DOI: 10.1007/s13346-021-01036-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Immunotherapy has emerged as an unprecedented hope for the treatment of notoriously refractory cancers. Numerous investigational drugs and immunotherapy-including combination regimens are under preclinical and clinical investigation. However, only a small patient subpopulation across different types of cancer responds to the therapy due to the presence of several mechanisms of resistance. There have been extensive efforts to overcome this limitation and to expand the patient population that could be benefited by this state-of-the-art therapeutic modality. Among various causes of the resistance, we here focus on physical stromal barriers that impede the access of immunotherapeutic drug molecules and/or native and engineered immune cells to cancer tissues and cells. Two primary stromal barriers that contribute to the resistance include aberrant tumor vasculatures and excessive extracellular matrix build-ups that restrict extravasation and infiltration, respectively, of molecular and cellular immunotherapeutic agents into tumor tissues. Here, we review the features of these barriers that limit the efficacy of immunotherapy and discuss recent advances that could potentially help immunotherapy overcome the barriers and improve therapeutic outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seung Woo Chung
- Center for Nanomedicine, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 400 N. Broadway, Baltimore, MD, 602921231, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21231, USA
| | - Yunxuan Xie
- Center for Nanomedicine, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 400 N. Broadway, Baltimore, MD, 602921231, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21231, USA
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, 21218, USA
| | - Jung Soo Suk
- Center for Nanomedicine, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 400 N. Broadway, Baltimore, MD, 602921231, USA.
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21231, USA.
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, 21218, USA.
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16
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Dogan E, Kisim A, Bati-Ayaz G, Kubicek GJ, Pesen-Okvur D, Miri AK. Cancer Stem Cells in Tumor Modeling: Challenges and Future Directions. ADVANCED NANOBIOMED RESEARCH 2021; 1:2100017. [PMID: 34927168 PMCID: PMC8680587 DOI: 10.1002/anbr.202100017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Microfluidic tumors-on-chips models have revolutionized anticancer therapeutic research by creating an ideal microenvironment for cancer cells. The tumor microenvironment (TME) includes various cell types and cancer stem cells (CSCs), which are postulated to regulate the growth, invasion, and migratory behavior of tumor cells. In this review, the biological niches of the TME and cancer cell behavior focusing on the behavior of CSCs are summarized. Conventional cancer models such as three-dimensional cultures and organoid models are reviewed. Opportunities for the incorporation of CSCs with tumors-on-chips are then discussed for creating tumor invasion models. Such models will represent a paradigm shift in the cancer community by allowing oncologists and clinicians to predict better which cancer patients will benefit from chemotherapy treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elvan Dogan
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ 08028
| | - Asli Kisim
- Department of Molecular Biology & Genetics, Izmir Institute of Technology, Gulbahce Kampusu, Urla, Izmir, 35430, Turkey
| | - Gizem Bati-Ayaz
- Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Izmir Institute of Technology, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Gregory J. Kubicek
- Department of Radiation Oncology, MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper, 2 Cooper Plaza, Camden, NJ 08103
| | - Devrim Pesen-Okvur
- Department of Molecular Biology & Genetics, Izmir Institute of Technology, Gulbahce Kampusu, Urla, Izmir, 35430, Turkey; Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Izmir Institute of Technology, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Amir K. Miri
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ 08028; School of Medical Engineering, Science, and Health, Rowan University, Camden, NJ 08103
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17
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Dávila S, Cacheux J, Rodríguez I. Microvessel-on-Chip Fabrication for the In Vitro Modeling of Nanomedicine Transport. ACS OMEGA 2021; 6:25109-25115. [PMID: 34632171 PMCID: PMC8495697 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.1c00735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Tumor-on-chip devices are becoming ideal platforms to recreate in vitro the particular physiological microenvironment of interest for onco-nanomedicine testing and development. This work presents a strategy to produce a round artificial microvessel on-a-chip device for the study of physiologically relevant nanomedicine transport dynamics. The microchannels have a diameter in the range of the tumor capillaries and a semicircular geometry. This geometry is obtained through an intermediate thermal nanoimprint step using a master mold with square-shaped channel structures produced by standard silicon micromachining or by stereolithography three-dimensional (3D) printing. The working microfluidic chip devices are made by casting polydimethylsiloxane on the imprinted intermediate mold. Artificial blood microvessels are created by seeding human endothelial cells into the round-shaped channels acting as the scaffold. The microchip is connected by 3D-printed reservoirs to a pressure controller, allowing for a fine fluidic control. Under physiological flow conditions, the dynamic interaction of nanoparticles (NPs) with the artificial endothelium was assessed by high-magnification fluorescence microscopy. Overtime, internalization of NPs and clustering was observed and the accumulation rate into the endothelial cells could be characterized in real time.
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18
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Paterson K, Zanivan S, Glasspool R, Coffelt SB, Zagnoni M. Microfluidic technologies for immunotherapy studies on solid tumours. LAB ON A CHIP 2021; 21:2306-2329. [PMID: 34085677 PMCID: PMC8204114 DOI: 10.1039/d0lc01305f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 05/09/2021] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Immunotherapy is a powerful and targeted cancer treatment that exploits the body's immune system to attack and eliminate cancerous cells. This form of therapy presents the possibility of long-term control and prevention of recurrence due to the memory capabilities of the immune system. Various immunotherapies are successful in treating haematological malignancies and have dramatically improved outcomes in melanoma. However, tackling other solid tumours is more challenging, mostly because of the immunosuppressive tumour microenvironment (TME). Current in vitro models based on traditional 2D cell monolayers and animal models, such as patient-derived xenografts, have limitations in their ability to mimic the complexity of the human TME. As a result, they have inadequate translational value and can be poorly predictive of clinical outcome. Thus, there is a need for robust in vitro preclinical tools that more faithfully recapitulate human solid tumours to test novel immunotherapies. Microfluidics and lab-on-a-chip technologies offer opportunities, especially when performing mechanistic studies, to understand the role of the TME in immunotherapy, and to expand the experimental throughput when using patient-derived tissue through its miniaturization capabilities. This review first introduces the basic concepts of immunotherapy, presents the current preclinical approaches used in immuno-oncology for solid tumours and then discusses the underlying challenges. We provide a rationale for using microfluidic-based approaches, highlighting the most recent microfluidic technologies and methodologies that have been used for studying cancer-immune cell interactions and testing the efficacy of immunotherapies in solid tumours. Ultimately, we discuss achievements and limitations of the technology, commenting on potential directions for incorporating microfluidic technologies in future immunotherapy studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Paterson
- Centre for Microsystems and Photonics, EEE Department, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK.
| | - S Zanivan
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK and Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Glasgow, UK
| | - R Glasspool
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK and Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre, Glasgow, UK
| | - S B Coffelt
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK and Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Glasgow, UK
| | - M Zagnoni
- Centre for Microsystems and Photonics, EEE Department, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK.
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19
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Llenas M, Paoli R, Feiner-Gracia N, Albertazzi L, Samitier J, Caballero D. Versatile Vessel-on-a-Chip Platform for Studying Key Features of Blood Vascular Tumors. Bioengineering (Basel) 2021; 8:bioengineering8060081. [PMID: 34207754 PMCID: PMC8226980 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering8060081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2021] [Revised: 05/26/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumor vessel-on-a-chip systems have attracted the interest of the cancer research community due to their ability to accurately recapitulate the multiple dynamic events of the metastatic cascade. Vessel-on-a-chip microfluidic platforms have been less utilized for investigating the distinctive features and functional heterogeneities of tumor-derived vascular networks. In particular, vascular tumors are characterized by the massive formation of thrombi and severe bleeding, a rare and life-threatening situation for which there are yet no clear therapeutic guidelines. This is mainly due to the lack of technological platforms capable of reproducing these characteristic traits of the pathology in a simple and well-controlled manner. Herein, we report the fabrication of a versatile tumor vessel-on-a-chip platform to reproduce, investigate, and characterize the massive formation of thrombi and hemorrhage on-chip in a fast and easy manner. Despite its simplicity, this method offers multiple advantages to recapitulate the pathophysiological events of vascular tumors, and therefore, may find useful applications in the field of vascular-related diseases, while at the same time being an alternative to more complex approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Llenas
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Baldiri Reixac 15–21, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (M.L.); (R.P.); (N.F.-G.)
- Department of Electronics and Biomedical Engineering, University of Barcelona, C. Martí i Franqués 1, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Roberto Paoli
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Baldiri Reixac 15–21, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (M.L.); (R.P.); (N.F.-G.)
- Department of Electronics and Biomedical Engineering, University of Barcelona, C. Martí i Franqués 1, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Natalia Feiner-Gracia
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Baldiri Reixac 15–21, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (M.L.); (R.P.); (N.F.-G.)
| | - Lorenzo Albertazzi
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Baldiri Reixac 15–21, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (M.L.); (R.P.); (N.F.-G.)
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Institute of Complex Molecular Systems (ICMS), Eindhoven University of Technology, 5612AZ Eindhoven, The Netherlands
- Correspondence: (L.A.); (J.S.); (D.C.)
| | - Josep Samitier
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Baldiri Reixac 15–21, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (M.L.); (R.P.); (N.F.-G.)
- Department of Electronics and Biomedical Engineering, University of Barcelona, C. Martí i Franqués 1, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Correspondence: (L.A.); (J.S.); (D.C.)
| | - David Caballero
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Baldiri Reixac 15–21, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (M.L.); (R.P.); (N.F.-G.)
- Department of Electronics and Biomedical Engineering, University of Barcelona, C. Martí i Franqués 1, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Correspondence: (L.A.); (J.S.); (D.C.)
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20
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Wasson EM, Dubbin K, Moya ML. Go with the flow: modeling unique biological flows in engineered in vitro platforms. LAB ON A CHIP 2021; 21:2095-2120. [PMID: 34008661 DOI: 10.1039/d1lc00014d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Interest in recapitulating in vivo phenomena in vitro using organ-on-a-chip technology has grown rapidly and with it, attention to the types of fluid flow experienced in the body has followed suit. These platforms offer distinct advantages over in vivo models with regards to human relevance, cost, and control of inputs (e.g., controlled manipulation of biomechanical cues from fluid perfusion). Given the critical role biophysical forces play in several tissues and organs, it is therefore imperative that engineered in vitro platforms capture the complex, unique flow profiles experienced in the body that are intimately tied with organ function. In this review, we outline the complex and unique flow regimes experienced by three different organ systems: blood vasculature, lymphatic vasculature, and the intestinal system. We highlight current state-of-the-art platforms that strive to replicate physiological flows within engineered tissues while introducing potential limitations in current approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa M Wasson
- Material Engineering Division, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, 7000 East Ave L-222, Livermore, CA 94551, USA.
| | - Karen Dubbin
- Material Engineering Division, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, 7000 East Ave L-222, Livermore, CA 94551, USA.
| | - Monica L Moya
- Material Engineering Division, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, 7000 East Ave L-222, Livermore, CA 94551, USA.
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21
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Hwang SH, Lee S, Park JY, Jeon JS, Cho YJ, Kim S. Potential of Drug Efficacy Evaluation in Lung and Kidney Cancer Models Using Organ-on-a-Chip Technology. MICROMACHINES 2021; 12:215. [PMID: 33669950 PMCID: PMC7924856 DOI: 10.3390/mi12020215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2021] [Revised: 02/13/2021] [Accepted: 02/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Organ-on-a-chip (OoC) is an exponential technology with the potential to revolutionize disease, toxicology research, and drug discovery. Recent advances in OoC could be utilized for drug screening in disease models to evaluate the efficacy of new therapies and support new tools for the understanding of disease mechanisms. Rigorous validation of this technology is required to determine whether OoC models may represent human-relevant physiology and predict clinical outcomes in target disease models. Achievements in the OoC field could reveal exciting new avenues for drug development and discovery. This review attempts to highlight the benefits of OoC as per our understanding of the cellular and molecular pathways in lung and kidney cancer models, and discusses the challenges in evaluating drug efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seong-Hye Hwang
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam 13620, Korea; (S.-H.H.); (Y.-J.C.)
| | - Sangchul Lee
- Department of Urology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea;
| | - Jee Yoon Park
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea;
| | | | - Young-Jae Cho
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam 13620, Korea; (S.-H.H.); (Y.-J.C.)
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea
| | - Sejoong Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam 13620, Korea; (S.-H.H.); (Y.-J.C.)
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea
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22
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Peelen DM, Hoogduijn MJ, Hesselink DA, Baan CC. Advanced in vitro Research Models to Study the Role of Endothelial Cells in Solid Organ Transplantation. Front Immunol 2021; 12:607953. [PMID: 33664744 PMCID: PMC7921837 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.607953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2020] [Accepted: 01/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The endothelium plays a key role in acute and chronic rejection of solid organ transplants. During both processes the endothelium is damaged often with major consequences for organ function. Also, endothelial cells (EC) have antigen-presenting properties and can in this manner initiate and enhance alloreactive immune responses. For decades, knowledge about these roles of EC have been obtained by studying both in vitro and in vivo models. These experimental models poorly imitate the immune response in patients and might explain why the discovery and development of agents that control EC responses is hampered. In recent years, various innovative human 3D in vitro models mimicking in vivo organ structure and function have been developed. These models will extend the knowledge about the diverse roles of EC in allograft rejection and will hopefully lead to discoveries of new targets that are involved in the interactions between the donor organ EC and the recipient's immune system. Moreover, these models can be used to gain a better insight in the mode of action of the currently prescribed immunosuppression and will enhance the development of novel therapeutics aiming to reduce allograft rejection and prolong graft survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daphne M Peelen
- Rotterdam Transplant Group, Department of Internal Medicine, Nephrology and Transplantation, Erasmus MC, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Martin J Hoogduijn
- Rotterdam Transplant Group, Department of Internal Medicine, Nephrology and Transplantation, Erasmus MC, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Dennis A Hesselink
- Rotterdam Transplant Group, Department of Internal Medicine, Nephrology and Transplantation, Erasmus MC, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Carla C Baan
- Rotterdam Transplant Group, Department of Internal Medicine, Nephrology and Transplantation, Erasmus MC, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
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23
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Pointon A, Maher J, Davis M, Baker T, Cichocki J, Ramsden D, Hale C, Kolaja KL, Levesque P, Sura R, Stresser DM, Gintant G. Cardiovascular microphysiological systems (CVMPS) for safety studies - a pharma perspective. LAB ON A CHIP 2021; 21:458-472. [PMID: 33471007 DOI: 10.1039/d0lc01040e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The integrative responses of the cardiovascular (CV) system are essential for maintaining blood flow to provide oxygenation, nutrients, and waste removal for the entire body. Progress has been made in independently developing simple in vitro models of two primary components of the CV system, namely the heart (using induced pluripotent stem-cell derived cardiomyocytes) and the vasculature (using endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells). These two in vitro biomimics are often described as immature and simplistic, and typically lack the structural complexity of native tissues. Despite these limitations, they have proven useful for specific "fit for purpose" applications, including early safety screening. More complex in vitro models offer the tantalizing prospect of greater refinement in risk assessments. To this end, efforts to physically link cardiac and vascular components to mimic a true CV microphysiological system (CVMPS) are ongoing, with the goal of providing a more holistic and integrated CV response model. The challenges of building and implementing CVMPS in future pharmacological safety studies are many, and include a) the need for more complex (and hence mature) cell types and tissues, b) the need for more realistic vasculature (within and across co-modeled tissues), and c) the need to meaningfully couple these two components to allow for integrated CV responses. Initial success will likely come with simple, bioengineered tissue models coupled with fluidics intended to mirror a vascular component. While the development of more complex integrated CVMPS models that are capable of differentiating safe compounds and providing mechanistic evaluations of CV liabilities may be feasible, adoption by pharma will ultimately hinge on model efficiency, experimental reproducibility, and added value above current strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy Pointon
- Functional Mechanistic Safety, Clinical Pharmacology and Safety Sciences, R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
| | - Jonathan Maher
- Translational Safety Sciences, Theravance Biopharma, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Myrtle Davis
- Discovery Toxicology, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, 3553 Lawrenceville Rd Princeton, NJ 08540, USA
| | - Thomas Baker
- Eli Lilly, Lilly Corporate Center, Indianapolis IN 46285, USA
| | | | - Diane Ramsden
- Takeda Pharmaceuticals, 35 Landsdowne St., Cambridge, MA 02139, UK
| | - Christopher Hale
- Amgen Research, 1120 Veterans Blvd., S. San Francisco, 94080, USA
| | - Kyle L Kolaja
- Investigative Toxicology and Cell Therapy, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, 556 Morris Avenue, Summit NJ 07042, USA
| | - Paul Levesque
- Discovery Toxicology, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, 3553 Lawrenceville Rd Princeton, NJ 08540, USA
| | | | - David M Stresser
- Drug Metabolism, Pharmacokinetics and Translational Modeling, AbbVie, 1 Waukegan Rd, N Chicago, IL 60064, USA
| | - Gary Gintant
- Integrative Pharmacology, Integrated Science and Technology, AbbVie, 1 Waukegan Rd, N Chicago, IL 60064, USA.
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24
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Fabrication and Bonding of Refractive Index Matched Microfluidics for Precise Measurements of Cell Mass. Polymers (Basel) 2021; 13:polym13040496. [PMID: 33562507 PMCID: PMC7915968 DOI: 10.3390/polym13040496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Revised: 01/26/2021] [Accepted: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The optical properties of polymer materials used for microfluidic device fabrication can impact device performance when used for optical measurements. In particular, conventional polymer materials used for microfluidic devices have a large difference in refractive index relative to aqueous media generally used for biomedical applications. This can create artifacts when used for microscopy-based assays. Fluorination can reduce polymer refractive index, but at the cost of reduced adhesion, creating issues with device bonding. Here, we present a novel fabrication technique for bonding microfluidic devices made of NOA1348, which is a fluorinated, UV-curable polymer with a refractive index similar to that of water, to a glass substrate. This technique is compatible with soft lithography techniques, making this approach readily integrated into existing microfabrication workflows. We also demonstrate that this material is compatible with quantitative phase imaging, which we used to validate the refractive index of the material post-fabrication. Finally, we demonstrate the use of this material with a novel image processing approach to precisely quantify the mass of cells in the microchannel without the use of cell segmentation or tracking. The novel image processing approach combined with this low refractive index material eliminates an important source of error, allowing for high-precision measurements of cell mass with a coefficient of variance of 1%.
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25
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Parlato S, Grisanti G, Sinibaldi G, Peruzzi G, Casciola CM, Gabriele L. Tumor-on-a-chip platforms to study cancer-immune system crosstalk in the era of immunotherapy. LAB ON A CHIP 2021; 21:234-253. [PMID: 33315027 DOI: 10.1039/d0lc00799d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Immunotherapy is a powerful therapeutic approach able to re-educate the immune system to fight cancer. A key player in this process is the tumor microenvironment (TME), which is a dynamic entity characterized by a complex array of tumor and stromal cells as well as immune cell populations trafficking to the tumor site through the endothelial barrier. Recapitulating these multifaceted dynamics is critical for studying the intimate interactions between cancer and the immune system and to assess the efficacy of emerging immunotherapies, such as immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and adoptive cell-based products. Microfluidic devices offer a unique technological approach to build tumor-on-a-chip reproducing the multiple layers of complexity of cancer-immune system crosstalk. Here, we seek to review the most important biological and engineering developments of microfluidic platforms for studying cancer-immune system interactions, in both solid and hematological tumors, highlighting the role of the vascular component in immune trafficking. Emphasis is given to image processing and related algorithms for real-time monitoring and quantitative evaluation of the cellular response to microenvironmental dynamic changes. The described approaches represent a valuable tool for preclinical evaluation of immunotherapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefania Parlato
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, Rome, Italy.
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Fabozzi A, Della Sala F, di Gennaro M, Solimando N, Pagliuca M, Borzacchiello A. Polymer based nanoparticles for biomedical applications by microfluidic techniques: from design to biological evaluation. Polym Chem 2021. [DOI: 10.1039/d1py01077h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
The development of microfluidic technologies represents a new strategy to produce and test drug delivery systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Fabozzi
- ALTERGON ITALIA S.r.l., Zona Industriale ASI, 83040 Morra De Sanctis, AV, Italy
| | - Francesca Della Sala
- Institute for Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials, National Research Council, IPCB-CNR, Naples, Italy
| | - Mario di Gennaro
- Institute for Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials, National Research Council, IPCB-CNR, Naples, Italy
| | - Nicola Solimando
- ALTERGON ITALIA S.r.l., Zona Industriale ASI, 83040 Morra De Sanctis, AV, Italy
| | - Maurizio Pagliuca
- ALTERGON ITALIA S.r.l., Zona Industriale ASI, 83040 Morra De Sanctis, AV, Italy
| | - Assunta Borzacchiello
- Institute for Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials, National Research Council, IPCB-CNR, Naples, Italy
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Fritschen A, Blaeser A. Biosynthetic, biomimetic, and self-assembled vascularized Organ-on-a-Chip systems. Biomaterials 2020; 268:120556. [PMID: 33310539 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2020.120556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2020] [Revised: 11/15/2020] [Accepted: 11/18/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Organ-on-a-Chip (OOC) devices have seen major advances in the last years with respect to biological complexity, physiological composition and biomedical relevance. In this context, integration of vasculature has proven to be a crucial element for long-term culture of thick tissue samples as well as for realistic pharmacokinetic, toxicity and metabolic modelling. With the emergence of digital production technologies and the reinvention of existing tools, a multitude of design approaches for guided angio- and vasculogenesis is available today. The underlying production methods can be categorized into biosynthetic, biomimetic and self-assembled vasculature formation. The diversity and importance of production approaches, vascularization strategies as well as biomaterials and cell sourcing are illustrated in this work. A comprehensive technological review with a strong focus on the challenge of producing physiologically relevant vascular structures is given. Finally, the remaining obstacles and opportunities in the development of vascularized Organ-on-a-Chip platforms for advancing drug development and predictive disease modelling are noted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Fritschen
- Institute for BioMedical Printing Technology, Technical University of Darmstadt, Germany.
| | - Andreas Blaeser
- Institute for BioMedical Printing Technology, Technical University of Darmstadt, Germany; Centre for Synthetic Biology, Technical University of Darmstadt, Germany.
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Luque‐González MA, Reis RL, Kundu SC, Caballero D. Human Microcirculation‐on‐Chip Models in Cancer Research: Key Integration of Lymphatic and Blood Vasculatures. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020; 4:e2000045. [DOI: 10.1002/adbi.202000045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2020] [Revised: 03/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Maria Angélica Luque‐González
- 3B’s Research Group, I3Bs—Research Institute on Biomaterials Biodegradables and BiomimeticsUniversity of MinhoHeadquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative MedicineICVS/3B’s—PT Government Associate Laboratory AvePark, Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia, Zona Industrial da Gandra 4805‐017 Barco Braga/Guimarães Portugal
| | - Rui Luis Reis
- 3B’s Research Group, I3Bs—Research Institute on Biomaterials Biodegradables and BiomimeticsUniversity of MinhoHeadquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative MedicineICVS/3B’s—PT Government Associate Laboratory AvePark, Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia, Zona Industrial da Gandra 4805‐017 Barco Braga/Guimarães Portugal
| | - Subhas Chandra Kundu
- 3B’s Research Group, I3Bs—Research Institute on Biomaterials Biodegradables and BiomimeticsUniversity of MinhoHeadquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative MedicineICVS/3B’s—PT Government Associate Laboratory AvePark, Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia, Zona Industrial da Gandra 4805‐017 Barco Braga/Guimarães Portugal
| | - David Caballero
- 3B’s Research Group, I3Bs—Research Institute on Biomaterials Biodegradables and BiomimeticsUniversity of MinhoHeadquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative MedicineICVS/3B’s—PT Government Associate Laboratory AvePark, Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia, Zona Industrial da Gandra 4805‐017 Barco Braga/Guimarães Portugal
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A three-dimensional bioprinted model to evaluate the effect of stiffness on neuroblastoma cell cluster dynamics and behavior. Sci Rep 2020; 10:6370. [PMID: 32286364 PMCID: PMC7156444 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-62986-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2019] [Accepted: 03/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Three-dimensional (3D) bioprinted culture systems allow to accurately control microenvironment components and analyze their effects at cellular and tissue levels. The main objective of this study was to identify, quantify and localize the effects of physical-chemical communication signals between tumor cells and the surrounding biomaterial stiffness over time, defining how aggressiveness increases in SK-N-BE(2) neuroblastoma (NB) cell line. Biomimetic hydrogels with SK-N-BE(2) cells, methacrylated gelatin and increasing concentrations of methacrylated alginate (AlgMA 0%, 1% and 2%) were used. Young's modulus was used to define the stiffness of bioprinted hydrogels and NB tumors. Stained sections of paraffin-embedded hydrogels were digitally quantified. Human NB and 1% AlgMA hydrogels presented similar Young´s modulus mean, and orthotopic NB mice tumors were equally similar to 0% and 1% AlgMA hydrogels. Porosity increased over time; cell cluster density decreased over time and with stiffness, and cell cluster occupancy generally increased with time and decreased with stiffness. In addition, cell proliferation, mRNA metabolism and antiapoptotic activity advanced over time and with stiffness. Together, this rheological, optical and digital data show the potential of the 3D in vitro cell model described herein to infer how intercellular space stiffness patterns drive the clinical behavior associated with NB patients.
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Wan L, Neumann CA, LeDuc PR. Tumor-on-a-chip for integrating a 3D tumor microenvironment: chemical and mechanical factors. LAB ON A CHIP 2020; 20:873-888. [PMID: 32025687 PMCID: PMC7067141 DOI: 10.1039/c9lc00550a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Tumor progression, including metastasis, is significantly influenced by factors in the tumor microenvironment (TME) such as mechanical force, shear stress, chemotaxis, and hypoxia. At present, most cancer studies investigate tumor metastasis by conventional cell culture methods and animal models, which are limited in data interpretation. Although patient tissue analysis, such as human patient-derived xenografts (PDX), can provide important clinical relevant information, they may not be feasible for functional studies as they are costly and time-consuming. Thus, in vitro three-dimensional (3D) models are rapidly being developed that mimic TME and allow functional investigations of metastatic mechanisms and drug responses. One of those new 3D models is tumor-on-a-chip technology that provides a powerful in vitro platform for cancer research, with the ability to mimic the complex physiological architecture and precise spatiotemporal control. Tumor-on-a-chip technology can provide integrated features including 3D scaffolding, multicellular culture, and a vasculature system to simulate dynamic flow in vivo. Here, we review a select set of recent achievements in tumor-on-a-chip approaches and present potential directions for tumor-on-a-chip systems in the future for areas including mechanical and chemical mimetic systems. We also discuss challenges and perspectives in both biological factors and engineering methods for tumor-on-a-chip progress. These approaches will allow in the future for the tumor-on-a-chip systems to test therapeutic approaches for individuals through using their cancerous cells gathered through approaches like biopsies, which then will contribute toward personalized medicine treatments for improving their outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Wan
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, 5000 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213 US.
| | - C A Neumann
- Department of Pharmacology & Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Hillman Cancer Center, Magee Womens Research Institute, 204 Craft Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213 US.
| | - P R LeDuc
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, 5000 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213 US.
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Recapitulating the Vasculature Using Organ-On-Chip Technology. Bioengineering (Basel) 2020; 7:bioengineering7010017. [PMID: 32085464 PMCID: PMC7175276 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering7010017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2020] [Revised: 02/13/2020] [Accepted: 02/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The development of Vasculature-on-Chip has progressed rapidly over the last decade and recently, a wealth of fabrication possibilities has emerged that can be used for engineering vessels on a chip. All these fabrication methods have their own advantages and disadvantages but, more importantly, the capability of recapitulating the in vivo vasculature differs greatly between them. The first part of this review discusses the biological background of the in vivo vasculature and all the associated processes. We then evaluate the biological relevance of different fabrication methods proposed for Vasculature-on-Chip, we indicate their possibilities and limitations, and we assess which fabrication methods are capable of recapitulating the intrinsic complexity of the vasculature. This review illustrates the complexity involved in developing in vitro vasculature and provides an overview of fabrication methods for Vasculature-on-Chip in relation to the biological relevance of such methods.
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An Le NH, Deng H, Devendran C, Akhtar N, Ma X, Pouton C, Chan HK, Neild A, Alan T. Ultrafast star-shaped acoustic micromixer for high throughput nanoparticle synthesis. LAB ON A CHIP 2020; 20:582-591. [PMID: 31898701 DOI: 10.1039/c9lc01174a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
We present an acoustically actuated microfluidic mixer, which can operate at flowrates reaching 8 ml min-1, providing a 50-fold improvement in throughput compared to previously demonstrated acoustofluidic approaches. The device consists of a robust silicon based micro-mechanical oscillator, sandwiched between two polymeric channels which guide the fluids in and out of the system. The chip is actuated by application of an oscillatory electrical signal onto a piezoelectric disk coupled to the substrate by adhesive. At the optimal frequency, this acoustofluidic system can homogenise two fluids with a relative mixing efficiency of 91%, within 4.1 ms from first contact. The micromixer has been used to synthesize two different systems: Budesonide nanodrugs with an average diameter of 80 ± 22 nm, and DNA nanoparticles with an average diameter of 63.3 ± 24.7 nm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nguyen Hoai An Le
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Laboratory for Microsystems, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
| | - Hao Deng
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Laboratory for Microsystems, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
| | - Citsabehsan Devendran
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Laboratory for Microsystems, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
| | - Nabila Akhtar
- Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Xiaoman Ma
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Laboratory for Microsystems, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
| | - Colin Pouton
- Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Hak-Kim Chan
- The Advanced Drug Delivery Group, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Adrian Neild
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Laboratory for Microsystems, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
| | - Tuncay Alan
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Laboratory for Microsystems, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
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Caballero D, Reis RL, Kundu SC. Engineering Patient-on-a-Chip Models for Personalized Cancer Medicine. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2020; 1230:43-64. [PMID: 32285364 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-36588-2_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Traditional in vitro and in vivo models typically used in cancer research have demonstrated a low predictive power for human response. This leads to high attrition rates of new drugs in clinical trials, which threaten cancer patient prognosis. Tremendous efforts have been directed towards the development of a new generation of highly predictable pre-clinical models capable to reproduce in vitro the biological complexity of the human body. Recent advances in nanotechnology and tissue engineering have enabled the development of predictive organs-on-a-chip models of cancer with advanced capabilities. These models can reproduce in vitro the complex three-dimensional physiology and interactions that occur between organs and tissues in vivo, offering multiple advantages when compared to traditional models. Importantly, these models can be tailored to the biological complexity of individual cancer patients resulting into biomimetic and personalized cancer patient-on-a-chip platforms. The individualized models provide a more accurate and physiological environment to predict tumor progression on patients and their response to drugs. In this chapter, we describe the latest advances in the field of cancer patient-on-a-chip, and discuss about their main applications and current challenges. Overall, we anticipate that this new paradigm in cancer in vitro models may open up new avenues in the field of personalized - cancer - medicine, which may allow pharmaceutical companies to develop more efficient drugs, and clinicians to apply patient-specific therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Caballero
- 3B's Research Group, I3Bs - Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Barco, Guimarães, Portugal. .,ICVS 3Bs PT Government Associate Lab, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal.
| | - Rui L Reis
- 3B's Research Group, I3Bs - Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Barco, Guimarães, Portugal.,ICVS 3Bs PT Government Associate Lab, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal.,The Discoveries Centre for Regenerative and Precision Medicine, Headquarters at University of Minho, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Subhas C Kundu
- 3B's Research Group, I3Bs - Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Barco, Guimarães, Portugal.,ICVS 3Bs PT Government Associate Lab, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal
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Abstract
Angiogenesis is a natural and vital phenomenon of neovascularization that occurs from pre-existing vasculature, being present in many physiological processes, namely in development, reproduction and regeneration. Being a highly dynamic and tightly regulated process, its abnormal expression can be on the basis of several pathologies. For that reason, angiogenesis has been a subject of major interest among the scientific community, being transverse to different areas and founding particular attention in tissue engineering and cancer research fields. Microfluidics has emerged as a powerful tool for modelling this phenomenon, thereby surpassing the limitations associated to conventional angiogenic models. Holding a tremendous flexibility in terms of experimental design towards a specific goal, microfluidic systems can offer an unlimited number of opportunities for investigating angiogenesis in many relevant scenarios, namely from its fundamental comprehension in normal physiological processes to the identification and testing of new therapeutic targets involved on pathological angiogenesis. Additionally, microvascular 3D in vitro models are now opening up new prospects in different fields, being used for investigating and establishing guidelines for the development of next generation of 3D functional vascularized grafts. The promising applications of this emerging technology in angiogenesis studies are herein overviewed, encompassing fundamental and applied research.
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de Mello CPP, Rumsey J, Slaughter V, Hickman JJ. A human-on-a-chip approach to tackling rare diseases. Drug Discov Today 2019; 24:2139-2151. [PMID: 31412288 PMCID: PMC6856435 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2019.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2019] [Revised: 07/18/2019] [Accepted: 08/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Drug development for rare diseases, classified as diseases with a prevalence of < 200 000 patients, is limited by the high cost of research and low target population. Owing to a lack of representative disease models, research has been challenging for orphan drugs. Human-on-a-chip (HoaC) technology, which models human tissues in interconnected in vitro microfluidic devices, has the potential to lower the cost of preclinical studies and increase the rate of drug approval by introducing human phenotypic models early in the drug discovery process. Advances in HoaC technology can drive a new approach to rare disease research and orphan drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Victoria Slaughter
- NanoScience Technology Center, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32826, USA
| | - James J Hickman
- NanoScience Technology Center, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32826, USA; Hesperos, Inc., Orlando, FL 32826, USA.
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Zhou Y, Chen Y. Latticed Channel Model of Touchable Communication Over Capillary Microcirculation Network. IEEE Trans Nanobioscience 2019; 18:669-678. [PMID: 31562098 DOI: 10.1109/tnb.2019.2943671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Recent progress on bioresorbable and bio-compatible miniature systems provides prospects for developing novel nanorobots operating inside the human body. These nanoscale systems are expected to dissolve in vivo and cause no side effect after completing their tasks. Motivated by these advancements, we have developed the analytical framework of touchable molecular communication (TouchCom) to describe the process of direct drug targeting (DDT) using externally controllable nanorobots. Built upon our previous work, we develop a novel latticed channel model of TouchCom for an interconnected capillary network near a targeted tumor area. Specifically, we propose a two-dimensional grid to synthesize the microcirculation environment, which is used to describe the propagation process of nanorobots. Furthermore, by applying the concept of multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems in wireless communications to the therapeutic window in cancer treatment, we propose a MIMO DDT strategy in the latticed channel to enhance the targeting efficiency while minimizing the adverse effect of drug toxicity. Based on the proposed model, we study the influence of blood flow direction on the efficiency of DDT, and introduce a compensation strategy with the help of an external guiding field to mitigate the misalignment between the direction of blood flow and the tumor location.
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Abstract
Recent advances in bioprinting technologies have enabled rapid manufacturing of organ-on-chip models along with biomimetic tissue microarchitectures. Bioprinting techniques can be used to integrate microfluidic channels and flow connections in organ-on-chip models. We review bioprinters in two categories of nozzle-based and optical-based methods, and then discuss their fabrication parameters such as resolution, replication fidelity, fabrication time, and cost for micro-tissue models and microfluidic applications. The use of bioprinters has shown successful replicates of functional engineered tissue models integrated within a desired microfluidic system, which facilitates the observation of metabolism or secretion of models and sophisticated control of a dynamic environment. This may provide a wider order of tissue engineering fabrication in mimicking physiological conditions for enhancing further applications such as drug development and pathological studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amir K. Miri
- Department of Mechanical Engineering Rowan University, 401 North Campus Drive, Glassboro, NJ 08028, USA
| | - Ebrahim Mostafavi
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, 02115
| | - Danial Khorsandi
- Center for Minimally Invasive Therapeutics (C-MIT), University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Department of Biotechnology-Biomedicine, University of Barcelona, Barcelona 08028, Spain
| | - Shu-Kai Hu
- Center for Minimally Invasive Therapeutics (C-MIT), University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Matthew Malpica
- Department of Mechanical Engineering Rowan University, 401 North Campus Drive, Glassboro, NJ 08028, USA
| | - Ali Khademhosseini
- Center for Minimally Invasive Therapeutics (C-MIT), University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Department of Biotechnology-Biomedicine, University of Barcelona, Barcelona 08028, Spain
- Department of Radiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
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Liu Z, Lan X. Microfluidic radiobioassays: a radiometric detection tool for understanding cellular physiology and pharmacokinetics. LAB ON A CHIP 2019; 19:2315-2339. [PMID: 31222194 DOI: 10.1039/c9lc00159j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The investigation of molecular uptake and its kinetics in cells is valuable for understanding the cellular physiological status, the observation of drug interventions, and the development of imaging agents and pharmaceuticals. Microfluidic radiobioassays, or microfluidic radiometric bioassays, constitute a radiometric imaging-on-a-chip technology for the assay of biological samples using radiotracers. From 2006 to date, microfluidic radiobioassays have shown advantages in many applications, including radiotracer characterization, enzyme activity radiobioassays, fast drug evaluation, single-cell imaging, facilitation of dynamic positron emission tomography (PET) imaging, and cellular pharmacokinetics (PK)/pharmacodynamics (PD) studies. These advantages lie in the minimized and integrated detection scheme, allowing real-time tracking of dynamic uptake, high sensitivity radiotracer imaging, and quantitative interpretation of imaging results. In this review, the basics of radiotracers, various radiometric detection methods, and applications of microfluidic radiobioassays will be introduced and summarized, and the potential applications and future directions of microfluidic radiobioassays will be forecasted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen Liu
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Wuhan Union Hospital, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No. 1277 Jiefang Ave, Wuhan, Hubei Province 430022, China.
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Jia L, Han F, Yang H, Turnbull G, Wang J, Clarke J, Shu W, Guo M, Li B. Microfluidic Fabrication of Biomimetic Helical Hydrogel Microfibers for Blood-Vessel-on-a-Chip Applications. Adv Healthc Mater 2019; 8:e1900435. [PMID: 31081247 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.201900435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2019] [Revised: 04/22/2019] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Nature has created many perfect helical microstructures, including DNA, collagen fibrils, and helical blood vessels, to achieve unique physiological functions. While previous studies have developed a number of microfabrication strategies, the preparation of complex helical structures and cell-laden helical structures for biomimetic applications remains challenging. In this study, a one-step microfluidics-based methodology is presented for preparing complex helical hydrogel microfibers and cell-laden helical hydrogel microfibers. Several types of complex helical structures, including multilayer helical microfibers and superhelical hollow microfibers with helical channels, are prepared by simply tuning the flow rates or modifying the geometry of microfluidic device. With the decent perfusability, the hollow microfibers may simulate the structural characteristics of helical blood vessels and create swirling blood flow in a blood-vessel-on-chip setup. Such hydrogel-based helical microstructures may potentially be used in areas such as blood vessel tissue engineering, organ-on-chips, drug screening, and biological actuators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luanluan Jia
- College of ChemistryChemical Engineering and Material ScienceOrthopaedic InstituteSoochow University Suzhou Jiangsu 215006 China
- Department of Orthopaedic SurgeryThe First Affiliated HospitalSoochow University Suzhou Jiangsu 215006 China
| | - Fengxuan Han
- College of ChemistryChemical Engineering and Material ScienceOrthopaedic InstituteSoochow University Suzhou Jiangsu 215006 China
- Department of Orthopaedic SurgeryThe First Affiliated HospitalSoochow University Suzhou Jiangsu 215006 China
| | - Huili Yang
- College of ChemistryChemical Engineering and Material ScienceOrthopaedic InstituteSoochow University Suzhou Jiangsu 215006 China
| | - Gareth Turnbull
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringUniversity of Strathclyde Glasgow G1 1QE UK
- Department of OrthopaedicsGolden Jubilee National Hospital Clydebank G81 4DY UK
| | - Jiayuan Wang
- College of ChemistryChemical Engineering and Material ScienceOrthopaedic InstituteSoochow University Suzhou Jiangsu 215006 China
| | - Jon Clarke
- Department of OrthopaedicsGolden Jubilee National Hospital Clydebank G81 4DY UK
| | - Wenmiao Shu
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringUniversity of Strathclyde Glasgow G1 1QE UK
| | - Mingyu Guo
- College of ChemistryChemical Engineering and Material ScienceOrthopaedic InstituteSoochow University Suzhou Jiangsu 215006 China
| | - Bin Li
- College of ChemistryChemical Engineering and Material ScienceOrthopaedic InstituteSoochow University Suzhou Jiangsu 215006 China
- Department of Orthopaedic SurgeryThe First Affiliated HospitalSoochow University Suzhou Jiangsu 215006 China
- China Orthopaedic Regenerative Medicine Group (CORMed) Hangzhou Zhejiang 310000 China
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40
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Zhu D, Long Q, Xu Y, Xing J. Evaluating Nanoparticles in Preclinical Research Using Microfluidic Systems. MICROMACHINES 2019; 10:mi10060414. [PMID: 31234335 PMCID: PMC6631852 DOI: 10.3390/mi10060414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2019] [Revised: 06/14/2019] [Accepted: 06/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Nanoparticles (NPs) have found a wide range of applications in clinical therapeutic and diagnostic fields. However, currently most NPs are still in the preclinical evaluation phase with few approved for clinical use. Microfluidic systems can simulate dynamic fluid flows, chemical gradients, partitioning of multi-organs as well as local microenvironment controls, offering an efficient and cost-effective opportunity to fast screen NPs in physiologically relevant conditions. Here, in this review, we are focusing on summarizing key microfluidic platforms promising to mimic in vivo situations and test the performance of fabricated nanoparticles. Firstly, we summarize the key evaluation parameters of NPs which can affect their delivery efficacy, followed by highlighting the importance of microfluidic-based NP evaluation. Next, we will summarize main microfluidic systems effective in evaluating NP haemocompatibility, transport, uptake and toxicity, targeted accumulation and general efficacy respectively, and discuss the future directions for NP evaluation in microfluidic systems. The combination of nanoparticles and microfluidic technologies could greatly facilitate the development of drug delivery strategies and provide novel treatments and diagnostic techniques for clinically challenging diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Derui Zhu
- Research Center of Basic Medical Sciences, Medical College, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China.
| | - Qifu Long
- Research Center of Basic Medical Sciences, Medical College, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China.
| | - Yuzhen Xu
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Medical College, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China.
| | - Jiangwa Xing
- Research Center of Basic Medical Sciences, Medical College, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China.
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41
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Sesen M, Fakhfouri A, Neild A. Coalescence of Surfactant-Stabilized Adjacent Droplets Using Surface Acoustic Waves. Anal Chem 2019; 91:7538-7545. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.8b05456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Muhsincan Sesen
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Armaghan Fakhfouri
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Adrian Neild
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
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Ozkan A, Ghousifam N, Hoopes PJ, Yankeelov TE, Rylander MN. In vitro vascularized liver and tumor tissue microenvironments on a chip for dynamic determination of nanoparticle transport and toxicity. Biotechnol Bioeng 2019; 116:1201-1219. [PMID: 30636289 PMCID: PMC10637916 DOI: 10.1002/bit.26919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2018] [Revised: 11/26/2018] [Accepted: 01/06/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
This paper presents the development of a vascularized breast tumor and healthy or tumorigenic liver microenvironments-on-a-chip connected in series. This is the first description of a vascularized multi tissue-on-a-chip microenvironment for modeling cancerous breast and cancerous/healthy liver microenvironments, to allow for the study of dynamic and spatial transport of particles. This device enables the dynamic determination of vessel permeability, the measurement of drug and nanoparticle transport, and the assessment of the associated efficacy and toxicity to the liver. The platform is utilized to determine the effect of particle size on the spatiotemporal diffusion of particles through each microenvironment, both independently and in response to the circulation of particles in varying sequences of microenvironments. The results show that when breast cancer cells were cultured in the microenvironments they had a 2.62-fold higher vessel porosity relative to vessels within healthy liver microenvironments. Hence, the permeability of the tumor microenvironment increased by 2.35- and 2.77-fold compared with a healthy liver for small and large particles, respectively. The extracellular matrix accumulation rate of larger particles was 2.57-fold lower than smaller particles in a healthy liver. However, the accumulation rate was 5.57-fold greater in the breast tumor microenvironment. These results are in agreement with comparable in vivo studies. Ultimately, the platform could be utilized to determine the impact of the tissue or tumor microenvironment, or drug and nanoparticle properties, on transport, efficacy, selectivity, and toxicity in a dynamic, and high-throughput manner for use in treatment optimization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alican Ozkan
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas
| | - Neda Ghousifam
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas
| | - Paul Jack Hoopes
- Department of Biostatistics and Medicine, Dartmouth College, Lebanon, New Hampshire
| | - Thomas Edward Yankeelov
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas
- Institute of Computational Engineering and Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas
- Departments of Diagnostic Medicine, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas
- Department of Oncology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas
- Livestrong Cancer Institutes, Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas
| | - Marissa Nichole Rylander
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas
- Institute of Computational Engineering and Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas
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43
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Santos AC, Pereira I, Magalhães M, Pereira-Silva M, Caldas M, Ferreira L, Figueiras A, Ribeiro AJ, Veiga F. Targeting Cancer Via Resveratrol-Loaded Nanoparticles Administration: Focusing on In Vivo Evidence. AAPS JOURNAL 2019; 21:57. [PMID: 31016543 DOI: 10.1208/s12248-019-0325-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2019] [Accepted: 03/22/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Resveratrol (RSV) is a polyphenol endowed with potential therapeutic effects in chronic diseases, particularly in cancer, the second leading cause of death worldwide in the twenty-first century. The advent of nanotechnology application in the field of drug delivery allows to overcome the constrains associated with the conventional anticancer treatments, in particular chemotherapy, reducing its adverse side effects, off target risks and surpassing cancer multidrug chemoresistance. Moreover, the use of nanotechnology-based carriers in the delivery of plant-derived anticancer agents, such as RSV, has already demonstrated to surpass the poor water solubility, instability and reduced bioavailability associated with phytochemicals, improving their therapeutic activity, thus prompting pharmaceutical developments. This review highlights the in vivo anticancer potential of RSV achieved by nanotherapeutic approaches. First, RSV physicochemical, stability and pharmacokinetic features are described. Thereupon, the chemotherapeutic and chemopreventive properties of RSV are underlined, emphasizing the RSV numerous cancer molecular targets. Lastly, a comprehensive analysis of the RSV-loaded nanoparticles (RSV-NPs) developed and administered in different in vivo cancer models to date is presented. Nanoparticles (NPs) have shown to improve RSV solubility, stability, pharmacokinetics and biodistribution in cancer tissues, enhancing markedly its in vivo anticancer activity. RSV-NPs are, thus, considered a potential nanomedicine-based strategy to fight cancer; however, further studies are still necessary to allow RSV-NP clinical translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Cláudia Santos
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Pólo das Ciências da Saúde, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3000-548, Coimbra, Portugal. .,REQUIMTE/LAQV, Group of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3000-548, Coimbra, Portugal.
| | - Irina Pereira
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Pólo das Ciências da Saúde, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3000-548, Coimbra, Portugal.,REQUIMTE/LAQV, Group of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3000-548, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Mariana Magalhães
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Pólo das Ciências da Saúde, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3000-548, Coimbra, Portugal.,REQUIMTE/LAQV, Group of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3000-548, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Miguel Pereira-Silva
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Pólo das Ciências da Saúde, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3000-548, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Mariana Caldas
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Pólo das Ciências da Saúde, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3000-548, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Laura Ferreira
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Pólo das Ciências da Saúde, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3000-548, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Ana Figueiras
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Pólo das Ciências da Saúde, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3000-548, Coimbra, Portugal.,REQUIMTE/LAQV, Group of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3000-548, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - António J Ribeiro
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Pólo das Ciências da Saúde, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3000-548, Coimbra, Portugal.,i3S, Group Genetics of Cognitive Dysfunction, Institute for Molecular and Cell Biology, Rua do Campo Alegre, 823, 4150-180, Porto, Portugal
| | - Francisco Veiga
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Pólo das Ciências da Saúde, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3000-548, Coimbra, Portugal.,REQUIMTE/LAQV, Group of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3000-548, Coimbra, Portugal
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44
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Osswald A, Hedrich V, Sommergruber W. 3D-3 Tumor Models in Drug Discovery for Analysis of Immune Cell Infiltration. Methods Mol Biol 2019; 1953:151-162. [PMID: 30912021 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-9145-7_10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The cross talk between tumor cells and other cells present in the tumor microenvironment such as stromal and immune cells highly influences the behavior and progression of disease. Understanding the underlying mechanisms of interaction is a prerequisite to develop new treatment strategies and to prevent or at least reduce therapy failure in the future. Specific reactivation of the patient's immune system is one of the major goals today. However, standard two-dimensional (2D) cell culture techniques lack the necessary complexity to address related questions. Novel three-dimensional (3D) in vitro models-embedded in a matrix or encapsulated in alginate-recapitulate the in vivo situation much better. Cross talk between different cell types can be studied starting from co-cultures. As cancer immune modulation is becoming a major research topic, 3D in vitro models represent an important tool to address immune regulatory/modulatory questions for T, NK, and other cells of the immune system. The 3D systems consisting of tumor cells, fibroblasts, and immune cells (3D-3) already proved as a reliable tool for us. For instance, we made use of those models to study the molecular mechanisms of the cross talk of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and fibroblasts, to unveil macrophage plasticity in the tumor microenvironment and to mirror drug responses in vivo. Generation of those 3D models and how to use them to study immune cell infiltration and activation will be described in the present book chapter.
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MESH Headings
- Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology
- Bioreactors
- Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/drug therapy
- Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/immunology
- Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/pathology
- Cells, Immobilized/drug effects
- Cells, Immobilized/immunology
- Cells, Immobilized/pathology
- Coculture Techniques/methods
- Drug Discovery/methods
- Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor/methods
- Fibroblasts/drug effects
- Fibroblasts/immunology
- Fibroblasts/pathology
- Humans
- Immunity, Cellular/drug effects
- Lung Neoplasms/drug therapy
- Lung Neoplasms/immunology
- Lung Neoplasms/pathology
- Spheroids, Cellular/drug effects
- Spheroids, Cellular/immunology
- Spheroids, Cellular/pathology
- Tumor Cells, Cultured
- Tumor Microenvironment/drug effects
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Viola Hedrich
- Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Vienna, Austria
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Christoffersson J, Meier F, Kempf H, Schwanke K, Coffee M, Beilmann M, Zweigerdt R, Mandenius CF. Evaluating the Effect of Drug Compounds on Cardiac Spheroids Using the Cardiac Cell Outgrowth Assay. Methods Mol Biol 2019; 1994:185-193. [PMID: 31124116 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-9477-9_17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The ideal cell culture model should mimic the cell physiology and the mechanical and the chemical cues that are present in specific tissues and organs, within a convenient high-throughput format. A possible key feature for such models is to recapture the cell polarity, the interactions between cells, and the interactions between the cells and the elastic extracellular matrix (ECM) by orienting the cells in a three-dimensional (3D) matrix. A common method to create 3D cell environments is to let the cells aggregate into spheroids with a diameter of around 200 μm. A major challenge for 3D cell cultures is to perform quick and easy imaging of the dense cell population, especially noninvasively. This protocol explains how to take advantage of the number of cells growing out from cell spheroids over time as a readout of the effect of a drug. The assay is compatible with standard imaging techniques and can be performed noninvasively using light microscopy or as a complement to other fluorescent imaging assays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonas Christoffersson
- Division of Biotechnology, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology (IFM), Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Florian Meier
- Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH and Co. KG, Nonclinical Drug Safety Germany, Biberach, Germany
| | - Henning Kempf
- Leibniz Research Laboratories for Biotechnology and Artificial Organs (LEBAO), Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Kristin Schwanke
- Leibniz Research Laboratories for Biotechnology and Artificial Organs (LEBAO), Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Michelle Coffee
- Leibniz Research Laboratories for Biotechnology and Artificial Organs (LEBAO), Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Mario Beilmann
- Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH and Co. KG, Nonclinical Drug Safety Germany, Biberach, Germany
| | - Robert Zweigerdt
- Leibniz Research Laboratories for Biotechnology and Artificial Organs (LEBAO), Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Carl-Fredrik Mandenius
- Division of Biotechnology, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology (IFM), Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
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46
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He Z, Ranganathan N, Li P. Evaluating nanomedicine with microfluidics. NANOTECHNOLOGY 2018; 29:492001. [PMID: 30215611 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6528/aae18a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Nanomedicines are engineered nanoscale structures that have an extensive range of application in the diagnosis and therapy of many diseases. Despite the rapid progress in and tremendous potential of nanomedicines, their clinical translational process is still slow, owing to the difficulty in understanding, evaluating, and predicting their behavior in complex living organisms. Microfluidic techniques offer a promising way to resolve these challenges. Carefully designed microfluidic chips enable in vivo microenvironment simulation and high-throughput analysis, thus providing robust platforms for nanomedicine evaluation. Here, we summarize the recent developments and achievements in microfluidic methods for nanomedicine evaluation, categorized into four sections based on their target systems: single cell, multicellular system, organ, and organism levels. Finally, we provide our perspectives on the challenges and future directions of microfluidics-based nanomedicine evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziyi He
- C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, United States of America
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47
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In vitro and ex vivo systems at the forefront of infection modeling and drug discovery. Biomaterials 2018; 198:228-249. [PMID: 30384974 PMCID: PMC7172914 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2018.10.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2018] [Revised: 10/05/2018] [Accepted: 10/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Bacterial infections and antibiotic resistant bacteria have become a growing problem over the past decade. As a result, the Centers for Disease Control predict more deaths resulting from microorganisms than all cancers combined by 2050. Currently, many traditional models used to study bacterial infections fail to precisely replicate the in vivo bacterial environment. These models often fail to incorporate fluid flow, bio-mechanical cues, intercellular interactions, host-bacteria interactions, and even the simple inclusion of relevant physiological proteins in culture media. As a result of these inadequate models, there is often a poor correlation between in vitro and in vivo assays, limiting therapeutic potential. Thus, the urgency to establish in vitro and ex vivo systems to investigate the mechanisms underlying bacterial infections and to discover new-age therapeutics against bacterial infections is dire. In this review, we present an update of current in vitro and ex vivo models that are comprehensively changing the landscape of traditional microbiology assays. Further, we provide a comparative analysis of previous research on various established organ-disease models. Lastly, we provide insight on future techniques that may more accurately test new formulations to meet the growing demand of antibiotic resistant bacterial infections.
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48
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Kim H, Schaniel C. Modeling Hematological Diseases and Cancer With Patient-Specific Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells. Front Immunol 2018; 9:2243. [PMID: 30323816 PMCID: PMC6172418 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.02243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2018] [Accepted: 09/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The advent of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) together with recent advances in genome editing, microphysiological systems, tissue engineering and xenograft models present new opportunities for the investigation of hematological diseases and cancer in a patient-specific context. Here we review the progress in the field and discuss the advantages, limitations, and challenges of iPSC-based malignancy modeling. We will also discuss the use of iPSCs and its derivatives as cellular sources for drug target identification, drug development and evaluation of pharmacological responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huensuk Kim
- Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Regenerative Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Christoph Schaniel
- Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Regenerative Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
- Mount Sinai Institute for Systems Biomedicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
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49
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Abstract
Over the past six decades the inflation-adjusted cost to bring a new drug to market has been increasing constantly and doubles every 9 years - now reaching in excess of $2.5 billion. Overall, the likelihood of FDA approval for a drug (any disease indication) that has entered phase I clinical trials is a mere 9.6%, with the approval rate for oncology far below average at only 5.1%. Lack of efficacy or toxicity is often not revealed until the later stages of clinical trials, despite promising preclinical data. This indicates that the current in vitro systems for drug screening need to be improved for better predictability of in vivo outcomes. Microphysiological systems (MPS), or bioengineered 3D microfluidic tissue and organ constructs that mimic physiological and pathological processes in vitro, can be leveraged across preclinical research and clinical trial stages to transform drug development and clinical management for a range of diseases. Here we review the current state-of-the-art in 3D tissue-engineering models developed for cancer research, with a focus on tumor-on-a-chip, or tumor chip, models. From our viewpoint, tumor chip systems can advance innovative medicine to ameliorate the high failure rates in anti-cancer drug development and clinical treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie J Hachey
- Department of Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA.
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50
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Tiberi S, du Plessis N, Walzl G, Vjecha MJ, Rao M, Ntoumi F, Mfinanga S, Kapata N, Mwaba P, McHugh TD, Ippolito G, Migliori GB, Maeurer MJ, Zumla A. Tuberculosis: progress and advances in development of new drugs, treatment regimens, and host-directed therapies. THE LANCET. INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2018; 18:e183-e198. [PMID: 29580819 DOI: 10.1016/s1473-3099(18)30110-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 218] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2017] [Revised: 12/19/2017] [Accepted: 01/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Tuberculosis remains the world's leading cause of death from an infectious disease, responsible for an estimated 1 674 000 deaths annually. WHO estimated 600 000 cases of rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis in 2016-of which 490 000 were multidrug resistant (MDR), with less than 50% survival after receiving recommended treatment regimens. Concerted efforts of stakeholders, advocates, and researchers are advancing further development of shorter course, more effective, safer, and better tolerated treatment regimens. We review the developmental pipeline and landscape of new and repurposed tuberculosis drugs, treatment regimens, and host-directed therapies (HDTs) for drug-sensitive and drug-resistant tuberculosis. 14 candidate drugs for drug-susceptible, drug-resistant, and latent tuberculosis are in clinical stages of drug development; nine are novel in phase 1 and 2 trials, and three new drugs are in advanced stages of development for MDR tuberculosis. Specific updates are provided on clinical trials of bedaquiline, delamanid, pretomanid, and other licensed or repurposed drugs that are undergoing investigation, including trials aimed at shortening duration of tuberculosis treatment, improving treatment outcomes and patient adherence, and reducing toxic effects. Ongoing clinical trials for shortening tuberculosis treatment duration, improving treatment outcomes in MDR tuberculosis, and preventing disease in people with latent tuberculosis infection are reviewed. A range of HDTs and immune-based treatments are under investigation as adjunctive therapy for shortening duration of therapy, preventing permanent lung injury, and improving treatment outcomes of MDR tuberculosis. We discuss the HDT development pipeline, ongoing clinical trials, and translational research efforts for adjunct tuberculosis treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Tiberi
- Division of Infection, Royal London Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - Nelita du Plessis
- South African Department of Science and Technology, and National Research Foundation Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Tuberculosis Research, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Gerhard Walzl
- South African Department of Science and Technology, and National Research Foundation Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Tuberculosis Research, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
| | | | - Martin Rao
- Champalimaud Foundation, Lisbon, Portugal; Krankenhaus Nordwest, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Francine Ntoumi
- Fondation Congolaise pour la Recherche Medicale, and Faculte des Sciences et Techniques, Universite M Ngouabi, Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo
| | - Sayoki Mfinanga
- National Institute for Medical Research, Muhimbili Medical Research Centre, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Nathan Kapata
- Institute of Public Health, Ministry of Health, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Peter Mwaba
- UNZA-UCLMS Research and Training Programme, and Apex University, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Timothy D McHugh
- Centre for Clinical Microbiology, Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London, UK
| | - Giuseppe Ippolito
- National Institute for Infectious Disease, L Spallanzani, Rome, Italy
| | - Giovanni Battista Migliori
- World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases, Maugeri Care and Research Institute, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Sceintifico, Tradate, Italy
| | - Markus J Maeurer
- Champalimaud Foundation, Lisbon, Portugal; Krankenhaus Nordwest, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Alimuddin Zumla
- Centre for Clinical Microbiology, Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London, UK; National Institute of Health and Research Biomedical Research Centre, UCL Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
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