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Lu R, Lee BJ, Lee E. Three-Dimensional Lymphatics-on-a-Chip Reveals Distinct, Size-Dependent Nanoparticle Transport Mechanisms in Lymphatic Drug Delivery. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2024; 10:5752-5763. [PMID: 39176471 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.4c01005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/24/2024]
Abstract
Although nanoparticle-based lymphatic drug delivery systems promise better treatment of cancer, infectious disease, and immune disease, their clinical translations are limited by low delivery efficiencies and unclear transport mechanisms. Here, we employed a three-dimensional (3D) lymphatics-on-a-chip featuring an engineered lymphatic vessel (LV) capable of draining interstitial fluids including nanoparticles. We tested lymphatic drainage of different sizes (30, 50, and 70 nm) of PLGA-b-PEG nanoparticles (NPs) using the lymphatics-on-a-chip device. In this study, we discovered that smaller NPs (30 and 50 nm) transported faster than larger NPs (70 nm) through the interstitial space, as expected, but the smaller NPs were captured by lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs) and accumulated within their cytosol, delaying NP transport into the lymphatic lumen, which was not observed in larger NPs. To examine the mechanisms of size-dependent NP transports, we employed four inhibitors, dynasore, nystatin, amiloride, and adrenomedullin, to selectively block dynamin-, caveolin-, macropinocytosis-mediated endocytosis-, and cell junction-mediated paracellular transport. Inhibiting dynamin using dynasore enhanced the transport of smaller NPs (30 and 50 nm) into the lymphatic lumen, minimizing cytosolic accumulation, but showed no effect on larger NP transport. Interestingly, the inhibition of caveolin by nystatin decreased the lymphatic transport of larger NPs without affecting the smaller NP transport, indicating distinct endocytosis mechanisms used by different sizes of NPs. Macropinocytosis inhibition by amiloride did not change the drainage of all sizes of NPs; however, paracellular transport inhibition by adrenomedullin blocked the lymphatic transport of NPs of all sizes. We further revealed that smaller NPs were captured in the Rab7-positive late-stage lymphatic endosomes to delay their lymphatic drainage, which was reversed by dynamin inhibition, suggesting that Rab7 is a potential target to enhance the lymphatic delivery of smaller NPs. Together, our 3D lymphatics-on-a-chip model unveils size-dependent NP transport mechanisms in lymphatic drug delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renhao Lu
- Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - Benjamin J Lee
- Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - Esak Lee
- Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
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2
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Peng AY, Lee BE. Microphysiological Systems for Cancer Immunotherapy Research and Development. Adv Biol (Weinh) 2024; 8:e2300077. [PMID: 37409385 PMCID: PMC10770294 DOI: 10.1002/adbi.202300077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023]
Abstract
Cancer immunotherapy focuses on the use of patients' adaptive immune systems to combat cancer. In the past decade, FDA has approved many immunotherapy products for cancer patients who suffer from primary tumors, tumor relapse, and metastases. However, these immunotherapies still show resistance in many patients and often lead to inconsistent responses in patients due to variations in tumor genetic mutations and tumor immune microenvironment. Microfluidics-based organ-on-a-chip technologies or microphysiological systems have opened new ways that can provide relatively fast screening for personalized immunotherapy and help researchers and clinicians understand tumor-immune interactions in a patient-specific manner. They also have the potential to overcome the limitations of traditional drug screening and testing, given the models provide a more realistic 3D microenvironment with better controllability, reproducibility, and physiological relevance. This review focuses on the cutting-edge microphysiological organ-on-a-chip devices developed in recent years for studying cancer immunity and testing cancer immunotherapeutic agents, as well as some of the largest challenges of translating this technology to clinical applications in immunotherapy and personalized medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. Yansong Peng
- Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - B. Esak Lee
- Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
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3
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Choi D, Park E, Choi J, Lu R, Yu JS, Kim C, Zhao L, Yu J, Nakashima B, Lee S, Singhal D, Scallan JP, Zhou B, Koh CJ, Lee E, Hong YK. Piezo1 regulates meningeal lymphatic vessel drainage and alleviates excessive CSF accumulation. Nat Neurosci 2024; 27:913-926. [PMID: 38528202 PMCID: PMC11088999 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-024-01604-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024]
Abstract
Piezo1 regulates multiple aspects of the vascular system by converting mechanical signals generated by fluid flow into biological processes. Here, we find that Piezo1 is necessary for the proper development and function of meningeal lymphatic vessels and that activating Piezo1 through transgenic overexpression or treatment with the chemical agonist Yoda1 is sufficient to increase cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) outflow by improving lymphatic absorption and transport. The abnormal accumulation of CSF, which often leads to hydrocephalus and ventriculomegaly, currently lacks effective treatments. We discovered that meningeal lymphatics in mouse models of Down syndrome were incompletely developed and abnormally formed. Selective overexpression of Piezo1 in lymphatics or systemic administration of Yoda1 in mice with hydrocephalus or Down syndrome resulted in a notable decrease in pathological CSF accumulation, ventricular enlargement and other associated disease symptoms. Together, our study highlights the importance of Piezo1-mediated lymphatic mechanotransduction in maintaining brain fluid drainage and identifies Piezo1 as a promising therapeutic target for treating excessive CSF accumulation and ventricular enlargement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongwon Choi
- Department of Surgery, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Eunkyung Park
- Department of Surgery, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Joshua Choi
- Department of Surgery, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Renhao Lu
- Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Jin Suh Yu
- Department of Surgery, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Chiyoon Kim
- Department of Surgery, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Luping Zhao
- Department of Surgery, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - James Yu
- Department of Surgery, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Brandon Nakashima
- Department of Surgery, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Sunju Lee
- Department of Surgery, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Dhruv Singhal
- Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Joshua P Scallan
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Bin Zhou
- New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Chester J Koh
- Division of Pediatric Urology, Texas Children's Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Esak Lee
- Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Young-Kwon Hong
- Department of Surgery, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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Cao Y, Meng F, Cai T, Gao L, Lee J, Solomevich SO, Aharodnikau UE, Guo T, Lan M, Liu F, Li Q, Viktor T, Li D, Cai Y. Nanoparticle drug delivery systems responsive to tumor microenvironment: Promising alternatives in the treatment of triple-negative breast cancer. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS. NANOMEDICINE AND NANOBIOTECHNOLOGY 2024; 16:e1950. [PMID: 38528388 DOI: 10.1002/wnan.1950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 02/04/2024] [Accepted: 02/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024]
Abstract
The conventional therapeutic treatment of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is negatively influenced by the development of tumor cell drug resistant, and systemic toxicity of therapeutic agents due to off-target activity. In accordance with research findings, nanoparticles (NPs) responsive to the tumor microenvironment (TME) have been discovered for providing opportunities to selectively target tumor cells via active targeting or Enhanced Permeability and Retention (EPR) effect. The combination of the TME control and therapeutic NPs offers promising solutions for improving the prognosis of the TNBC because the TME actively participates in tumor growth, metastasis, and drug resistance. The NP-based systems leverage stimulus-responsive mechanisms, such as low pH value, hypoxic, excessive secretion enzyme, concentration of glutathione (GSH)/reactive oxygen species (ROS), and high concentration of Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to combat TNBC progression. Concurrently, NP-based stimulus-responsive introduces a novel approach for drug dosage design, administration, and modification of the pharmacokinetics of conventional chemotherapy and immunotherapy drugs. This review provides a comprehensive examination of the strengths, limitations, applications, perspectives, and future expectations of both novel and traditional stimulus-responsive NP-based drug delivery systems for improving outcomes in the medical practice of TNBC. This article is categorized under: Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Emerging Technologies Nanotechnology Approaches to Biology > Nanoscale Systems in Biology Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Nanomedicine for Oncologic Disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ye Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment/International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development of Ministry of Education (MOE) of China/Guangdong Key Lab of Traditional Chinese Medicine Informatization/International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Guangdong Province/School of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Fansu Meng
- Zhongshan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhongshan, China
| | - Tiange Cai
- College of Life Sciences, Liaoning University, Shenyang, China
| | - Lanwen Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment/International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development of Ministry of Education (MOE) of China/Guangdong Key Lab of Traditional Chinese Medicine Informatization/International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Guangdong Province/School of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jaiwoo Lee
- College of Pharmacy and Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Sergey O Solomevich
- Research Institute for Physical Chemical Problems of the Belarusian State University, Minsk, Belarus
| | - Uladzislau E Aharodnikau
- Research Institute for Physical Chemical Problems of the Belarusian State University, Minsk, Belarus
| | - Tingting Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment/International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development of Ministry of Education (MOE) of China/Guangdong Key Lab of Traditional Chinese Medicine Informatization/International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Guangdong Province/School of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Meng Lan
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment/International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development of Ministry of Education (MOE) of China/Guangdong Key Lab of Traditional Chinese Medicine Informatization/International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Guangdong Province/School of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Fengjie Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment/International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development of Ministry of Education (MOE) of China/Guangdong Key Lab of Traditional Chinese Medicine Informatization/International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Guangdong Province/School of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qianwen Li
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment/International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development of Ministry of Education (MOE) of China/Guangdong Key Lab of Traditional Chinese Medicine Informatization/International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Guangdong Province/School of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Timoshenko Viktor
- Faculty of Physics, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Detang Li
- The First Clinical Medical School of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine/Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine/Guangdong Clinical Research Academy of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yu Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment/International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development of Ministry of Education (MOE) of China/Guangdong Key Lab of Traditional Chinese Medicine Informatization/International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Guangdong Province/School of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
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Yoon H, Sabaté Del Río J, Cho SW, Park TE. Recent advances in micro-physiological systems for investigating tumor metastasis and organotropism. LAB ON A CHIP 2024; 24:1351-1366. [PMID: 38303676 DOI: 10.1039/d3lc01033c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
Tumor metastasis involves complex processes that traditional 2D cultures and animal models struggle to fully replicate. Metastatic tumors undergo a multitude of transformations, including genetic diversification, adaptation to diverse microenvironments, and modified drug responses, contributing significantly to cancer-related mortality. Micro-physiological systems (MPS) technology emerges as a promising approach to emulate the metastatic process by integrating critical biochemical, biomechanical, and geometrical cues at a microscale. These systems are particularly advantageous simulating metastasis organotropism, the phenomenon where tumors exhibit a preference for metastasizing to particular organs. Organotropism is influenced by various factors, such as tumor cell characteristics, unique organ microenvironments, and organ-specific vascular conditions, all of which can be effectively examined using MPS. This review surveys the recent developments in MPS research from the past five years, with a specific focus on their applications in replicating tumor metastasis and organotropism. Furthermore, we discuss the current limitations in MPS-based studies of organotropism and propose strategies for more accurately replicating and analyzing the intricate aspects of organ-specific metastasis, which is pivotal in the development of targeted therapeutic approaches against metastatic cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heejeong Yoon
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Information and Biotechnology, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea.
| | - Jonathan Sabaté Del Río
- Center for Algorithmic and Robotized Synthesis (CARS), Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung Woo Cho
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Information and Biotechnology, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea.
| | - Tae-Eun Park
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Information and Biotechnology, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea.
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Kraus S, Lee E. A human initial lymphatic chip reveals distinct mechanisms of primary lymphatic valve dysfunction in acute and chronic inflammation. LAB ON A CHIP 2023; 23:5180-5194. [PMID: 37981867 PMCID: PMC10908576 DOI: 10.1039/d3lc00486d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2023]
Abstract
Interstitial fluid uptake and retention by lymphatic vessels (LVs) play a role in maintaining interstitial fluid homeostasis. While it is well-established that intraluminal lymphatic valves in the collecting LVs prevent fluid backflow (secondary lymphatic valves), a separate valve system in the initial LVs that only permits interstitial fluid influx into the LVs, preventing fluid leakage back to the interstitium (primary lymphatic valves), remains incompletely understood. Although lymphatic dysfunction is commonly observed in inflammation and autoimmune diseases, how the primary lymphatic valves are affected by acute and chronic inflammation has scarcely been explored and even less so using in vitro lymphatic models. Here, we developed a human initial lymphatic vessel chip where interstitial fluid pressure and luminal fluid pressure are controlled to examine primary lymph valve function. In normal conditions, lymphatic drainage (fluid uptake) and permeability (fluid leakage) in engineered LVs were maintained high and low, respectively, which was consistent with our understanding of healthy primary lymph valves. Next, we examined the effects of acute and chronic inflammation. Under the acute inflammation condition with a TNF-α treatment (2 hours), degradation of fibrillin and impeded lymphatic drainage were observed, which were reversed by treatment with anti-inflammatory dexamethasone. Surprisingly, the chronic inflammation condition (repeated TNF-α treatments during 48 hours) deposited fibrillin to compensate for the fibrillin loss, showing no change in lymphatic drainage. Instead, the chronic inflammation condition led to cell death and disruption of lymphatic endothelial cell-cell junctions, increasing lymphatic permeability and fluid leakage. Our human lymphatic model shows two distinct mechanisms by which primary lymphatic valve dysfunction occurs in acute and chronic inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha Kraus
- Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
| | - Esak Lee
- Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
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7
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Tan ML, Jenkins-Johnston N, Huang S, Schutrum B, Vadhin S, Adhikari A, Williams RM, Zipfel WR, Lammerding J, Varner JD, Fischbach C. Endothelial cells metabolically regulate breast cancer invasion toward a microvessel. APL Bioeng 2023; 7:046116. [PMID: 38058993 PMCID: PMC10697723 DOI: 10.1063/5.0171109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer metastasis is initiated by invasion of tumor cells into the collagen type I-rich stroma to reach adjacent blood vessels. Prior work has identified that metabolic plasticity is a key requirement of tumor cell invasion into collagen. However, it remains largely unclear how blood vessels affect this relationship. Here, we developed a microfluidic platform to analyze how tumor cells invade collagen in the presence and absence of a microvascular channel. We demonstrate that endothelial cells secrete pro-migratory factors that direct tumor cell invasion toward the microvessel. Analysis of tumor cell metabolism using metabolic imaging, metabolomics, and computational flux balance analysis revealed that these changes are accompanied by increased rates of glycolysis and oxygen consumption caused by broad alterations of glucose metabolism. Indeed, restricting glucose availability decreased endothelial cell-induced tumor cell invasion. Our results suggest that endothelial cells promote tumor invasion into the stroma due, in part, to reprogramming tumor cell metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew L. Tan
- Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA
| | - Niaa Jenkins-Johnston
- Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA
| | - Sarah Huang
- Robert Frederick Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA
| | - Brittany Schutrum
- Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA
| | - Sandra Vadhin
- Robert Frederick Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA
| | - Abhinav Adhikari
- Robert Frederick Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA
| | - Rebecca M. Williams
- Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA
| | - Warren R. Zipfel
- Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA
| | - Jan Lammerding
- Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA
| | - Jeffrey D. Varner
- Robert Frederick Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA
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Bouquerel C, Dubrova A, Hofer I, Phan DTT, Bernheim M, Ladaigue S, Cavaniol C, Maddalo D, Cabel L, Mechta-Grigoriou F, Wilhelm C, Zalcman G, Parrini MC, Descroix S. Bridging the gap between tumor-on-chip and clinics: a systematic review of 15 years of studies. LAB ON A CHIP 2023; 23:3906-3935. [PMID: 37592893 DOI: 10.1039/d3lc00531c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/19/2023]
Abstract
Over the past 15 years, the field of oncology research has witnessed significant progress in the development of new cell culture models, such as tumor-on-chip (ToC) systems. In this comprehensive overview, we present a multidisciplinary perspective by bringing together physicists, biologists, clinicians, and experts from pharmaceutical companies to highlight the current state of ToC research, its unique features, and the challenges it faces. To offer readers a clear and quantitative understanding of the ToC field, we conducted an extensive systematic analysis of more than 300 publications related to ToC from 2005 to 2022. ToC offer key advantages over other in vitro models by enabling precise control over various parameters. These parameters include the properties of the extracellular matrix, mechanical forces exerted on cells, the physico-chemical environment, cell composition, and the architecture of the tumor microenvironment. Such fine control allows ToC to closely replicate the complex microenvironment and interactions within tumors, facilitating the study of cancer progression and therapeutic responses in a highly representative manner. Importantly, by incorporating patient-derived cells or tumor xenografts, ToC models have demonstrated promising results in terms of clinical validation. We also examined the potential of ToC for pharmaceutical industries in which ToC adoption is expected to occur gradually. Looking ahead, given the high failure rate of clinical trials and the increasing emphasis on the 3Rs principles (replacement, reduction, refinement of animal experimentation), ToC models hold immense potential for cancer research. In the next decade, data generated from ToC models could potentially be employed for discovering new therapeutic targets, contributing to regulatory purposes, refining preclinical drug testing and reducing reliance on animal models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte Bouquerel
- Macromolécules et Microsystèmes en Biologie et Médecine, UMR 168, Institut Curie, Institut Pierre Gilles de Gennes, 6 rue Jean Calvin, 75005, Paris, France
- Stress and Cancer Laboratory, Inserm, U830, Institut Curie, PSL Research University, 26 rue d'Ulm, 75005, Paris, France
- Fluigent, 67 avenue de Fontainebleau, 94270, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
| | - Anastasiia Dubrova
- Macromolécules et Microsystèmes en Biologie et Médecine, UMR 168, Institut Curie, Institut Pierre Gilles de Gennes, 6 rue Jean Calvin, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Isabella Hofer
- Stress and Cancer Laboratory, Inserm, U830, Institut Curie, PSL Research University, 26 rue d'Ulm, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Duc T T Phan
- Biomedicine Design, Pfizer Inc., San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Moencopi Bernheim
- Macromolécules et Microsystèmes en Biologie et Médecine, UMR 168, Institut Curie, Institut Pierre Gilles de Gennes, 6 rue Jean Calvin, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Ségolène Ladaigue
- Stress and Cancer Laboratory, Inserm, U830, Institut Curie, PSL Research University, 26 rue d'Ulm, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Charles Cavaniol
- Macromolécules et Microsystèmes en Biologie et Médecine, UMR 168, Institut Curie, Institut Pierre Gilles de Gennes, 6 rue Jean Calvin, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Danilo Maddalo
- Department of Translational Oncology, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Luc Cabel
- Institut Curie, Department of Medical Oncology, 26 rue d'Ulm, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Fatima Mechta-Grigoriou
- Stress and Cancer Laboratory, Inserm, U830, Institut Curie, PSL Research University, 26 rue d'Ulm, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Claire Wilhelm
- Macromolécules et Microsystèmes en Biologie et Médecine, UMR 168, Institut Curie, Institut Pierre Gilles de Gennes, 6 rue Jean Calvin, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Gérard Zalcman
- Stress and Cancer Laboratory, Inserm, U830, Institut Curie, PSL Research University, 26 rue d'Ulm, 75005, Paris, France
- Université Paris Cité, Thoracic Oncology Department, INSERM CIC1425, Bichat Hospital, Cancer Institute AP-HP. Nord, Paris, France.
| | - Maria Carla Parrini
- Stress and Cancer Laboratory, Inserm, U830, Institut Curie, PSL Research University, 26 rue d'Ulm, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Stéphanie Descroix
- Macromolécules et Microsystèmes en Biologie et Médecine, UMR 168, Institut Curie, Institut Pierre Gilles de Gennes, 6 rue Jean Calvin, 75005, Paris, France
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Cauli E, Polidoro MA, Marzorati S, Bernardi C, Rasponi M, Lleo A. Cancer-on-chip: a 3D model for the study of the tumor microenvironment. J Biol Eng 2023; 17:53. [PMID: 37592292 PMCID: PMC10436436 DOI: 10.1186/s13036-023-00372-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The approval of anticancer therapeutic strategies is still slowed down by the lack of models able to faithfully reproduce in vivo cancer physiology. On one hand, the conventional in vitro models fail to recapitulate the organ and tissue structures, the fluid flows, and the mechanical stimuli characterizing the human body compartments. On the other hand, in vivo animal models cannot reproduce the typical human tumor microenvironment, essential to study cancer behavior and progression. This study reviews the cancer-on-chips as one of the most promising tools to model and investigate the tumor microenvironment and metastasis. We also described how cancer-on-chip devices have been developed and implemented to study the most common primary cancers and their metastatic sites. Pros and cons of this technology are then discussed highlighting the future challenges to close the gap between the pre-clinical and clinical studies and accelerate the approval of new anticancer therapies in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Cauli
- Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering, Politecnico Di Milano, Milan, Italy.
- Accelera Srl, Nerviano, Milan, Italy.
| | - Michela Anna Polidoro
- Hepatobiliary Immunopathology Laboratory, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Simona Marzorati
- Hepatobiliary Immunopathology Laboratory, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Marco Rasponi
- Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering, Politecnico Di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Ana Lleo
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele, Milan, Italy
- Division of Internal Medicine and Hepatology, Department of Gastroenterology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
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Ilan IS, Yslas AR, Peng Y, Lu R, Lee E. A 3D Human Lymphatic Vessel-on-Chip Reveals the Roles of Interstitial Flow and VEGF-A/C for Lymphatic Sprouting and Discontinuous Junction Formation. Cell Mol Bioeng 2023; 16:325-339. [PMID: 37811004 PMCID: PMC10550886 DOI: 10.1007/s12195-023-00780-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Lymphatic vessels (LVs) maintain fluid homeostasis by draining excess interstitial fluid, which is accomplished by two distinct LVs: initial LVs and collecting LVs. The interstitial fluid is first drained into the initial LVs through permeable "button-like" lymphatic endothelial cell (LEC) junctions. Next, the drained fluid ("lymph") transports to lymph nodes through the collecting LVs with less permeable "zipper-like" junctions that minimize loss of lymph. Despite the significance of LEC junctions in lymphatic drainage and transport, it remains unclear how luminal or interstitial flow affects LEC junctions in vascular endothelial growth factors A and C (VEGF-A and VEGF-C) conditions. Moreover, it remains unclear how these flow and growth factor conditions impact lymphatic sprouting. Methods We developed a 3D human lymphatic vessel-on-chip that can generate four different flow conditions (no flow, luminal flow, interstitial flow, both luminal and interstitial flow) to allow an engineered, rudimentary LV to experience those flows and respond to them in VEGF-A/C. Results We examined LEC junction discontinuities, lymphatic sprouting, LEC junction thicknesses, and cell contractility-dependent vessel diameters in the four different flow conditions in VEGF-A/C. We discovered that interstitial flow in VEGF-C generates discontinuous LEC junctions that may be similar to the button-like junctions with no lymphatic sprouting. However, interstitial flow or both luminal and interstitial flow stimulated lymphatic sprouting in VEGF-A, maintaining zipper-like LEC junctions. LEC junction thickness and cell contractility-dependent vessel diameters were not changed by those conditions. Conclusions In this study, we provide an engineered lymphatic vessel platform that can generate four different flow regimes and reveal the roles of interstitial flow and VEGF-A/C for lymphatic sprouting and discontinuous junction formation. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12195-023-00780-0.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabelle S. Ilan
- Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853 USA
- College of Human Ecology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853 USA
| | - Aria R. Yslas
- Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853 USA
| | - Yansong Peng
- Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853 USA
| | - Renhao Lu
- Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853 USA
| | - Esak Lee
- Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853 USA
- Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Cornell University, 302 Weill Hall, 237 Tower Road, Ithaca, NY 14853 USA
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11
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Li W, Zhou Z, Zhou X, Khoo BL, Gunawan R, Chin YR, Zhang L, Yi C, Guan X, Yang M. 3D Biomimetic Models to Reconstitute Tumor Microenvironment In Vitro: Spheroids, Organoids, and Tumor-on-a-Chip. Adv Healthc Mater 2023; 12:e2202609. [PMID: 36917657 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202202609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Revised: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023]
Abstract
Decades of efforts in engineering in vitro cancer models have advanced drug discovery and the insight into cancer biology. However, the establishment of preclinical models that enable fully recapitulating the tumor microenvironment remains challenging owing to its intrinsic complexity. Recent progress in engineering techniques has allowed the development of a new generation of in vitro preclinical models that can recreate complex in vivo tumor microenvironments and accurately predict drug responses, including spheroids, organoids, and tumor-on-a-chip. These biomimetic 3D tumor models are of particular interest as they pave the way for better understanding of cancer biology and accelerating the development of new anticancer therapeutics with reducing animal use. Here, the recent advances in developing these in vitro platforms for cancer modeling and preclinical drug screening, focusing on incorporating hydrogels are reviewed to reconstitute physiologically relevant microenvironments. The combination of spheroids/organoids with microfluidic technologies is also highlighted to better mimic in vivo tumors and discuss the challenges and future directions in the clinical translation of such models for drug screening and personalized medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenxiu Li
- Department of Precision Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technology, City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Futian Research Institute, Shenzhen, 518000, China
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Tung Biomedical Sciences Centre, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, 999077, China
| | - Zhihang Zhou
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Tung Biomedical Sciences Centre, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, 999077, China
- Department of Gastroenterology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400010, China
| | - Xiaoyu Zhou
- Department of Precision Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technology, City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Futian Research Institute, Shenzhen, 518000, China
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Tung Biomedical Sciences Centre, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, 999077, China
| | - Bee Luan Khoo
- Department of Precision Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technology, City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Futian Research Institute, Shenzhen, 518000, China
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 999077, China
| | - Renardi Gunawan
- Department of Precision Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technology, City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Futian Research Institute, Shenzhen, 518000, China
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Tung Biomedical Sciences Centre, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, 999077, China
| | - Y Rebecca Chin
- Department of Precision Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technology, City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Futian Research Institute, Shenzhen, 518000, China
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Tung Biomedical Sciences Centre, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, 999077, China
| | - Liang Zhang
- Department of Precision Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technology, City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Futian Research Institute, Shenzhen, 518000, China
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Tung Biomedical Sciences Centre, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, 999077, China
| | - Changqing Yi
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering and Technology Center of Advanced and Portable Medical Devices, School of Biomedical Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 518107, China
| | - Xinyuan Guan
- Department of Clinical Oncology, State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, 999077, China
| | - Mengsu Yang
- Department of Precision Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technology, City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Futian Research Institute, Shenzhen, 518000, China
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Tung Biomedical Sciences Centre, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, 999077, China
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12
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Patras L, Shaashua L, Matei I, Lyden D. Immune determinants of the pre-metastatic niche. Cancer Cell 2023; 41:546-572. [PMID: 36917952 PMCID: PMC10170403 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2023.02.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Revised: 02/11/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023]
Abstract
Primary tumors actively and specifically prime pre-metastatic niches (PMNs), the future sites of organotropic metastasis, preparing these distant microenvironments for disseminated tumor cell arrival. While initial studies of the PMN focused on extracellular matrix alterations and stromal reprogramming, it is increasingly clear that the far-reaching effects of tumors are in great part achieved through systemic and local PMN immunosuppression. Here, we discuss recent advances in our understanding of the tumor immune microenvironment and provide a comprehensive overview of the immune determinants of the PMN's spatiotemporal evolution. Moreover, we depict the PMN immune landscape, based on functional pre-clinical studies as well as mounting clinical evidence, and the dynamic, reciprocal crosstalk with systemic changes imposed by cancer progression. Finally, we outline emerging therapeutic approaches that alter the dynamics of the interactions driving PMN formation and reverse immunosuppression programs in the PMN ensuring early anti-tumor immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Patras
- Children's Cancer and Blood Foundation Laboratories, Departments of Pediatrics, and Cell and Developmental Biology, Drukier Institute for Children's Health, Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Center of Systems Biology, Biodiversity and Bioresources, Faculty of Biology and Geology, Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Lee Shaashua
- Children's Cancer and Blood Foundation Laboratories, Departments of Pediatrics, and Cell and Developmental Biology, Drukier Institute for Children's Health, Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Irina Matei
- Children's Cancer and Blood Foundation Laboratories, Departments of Pediatrics, and Cell and Developmental Biology, Drukier Institute for Children's Health, Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
| | - David Lyden
- Children's Cancer and Blood Foundation Laboratories, Departments of Pediatrics, and Cell and Developmental Biology, Drukier Institute for Children's Health, Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
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13
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Soden PA, Henderson AR, Lee E. A Microfluidic Model of AQP4 Polarization Dynamics and Fluid Transport in the Healthy and Inflamed Human Brain: The First Step Towards Glymphatics-on-a-Chip. Adv Biol (Weinh) 2022; 6:e2200027. [PMID: 35922370 PMCID: PMC9771879 DOI: 10.1002/adbi.202200027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2022] [Revised: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Dysfunction of the aquaporin-4 (AQP4)-dependent glymphatic waste clearance pathway has recently been implicated in the pathogenesis of several neurodegenerative diseases. However, it is difficult to unravel the causative relationship between glymphatic dysfunction, AQP4 depolarization, protein aggregation, and inflammation in neurodegeneration using animal models alone. There is currently a clear, unmet need for in vitro models of the brain's waterscape, and the first steps towards a bona fide "glymphatics-on-a-chip" are taken in the present study. It is demonstrated that chronic exposure to lipopolysaccharide (LPS), amyloid-β(1-42) oligomers, and an AQP4 inhibitor impairs the drainage of fluid and amyloid-β(1-40) tracer in a gliovascular unit (GVU)-on-a-chip model containing human astrocytes and brain microvascular endothelial cells. The LPS-induced drainage impairment is partially retained following cell lysis, indicating that neuroinflammation induces parallel changes in cell-dependent and matrisome-dependent fluid transport pathways in GVU-on-a-chip. Additionally, AQP4 depolarization is observed following LPS treatment, suggesting that LPS-induced drainage impairments on-chip may be driven in part by changes in AQP4-dependent fluid dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul A Soden
- College of Human Ecology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Aria R Henderson
- Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Esak Lee
- Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
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14
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Wang R, Zhang C, Li D, Yao Y. Tumor-on-a-chip: Perfusable vascular incorporation brings new approach to tumor metastasis research and drug development. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:1057913. [PMID: 36483772 PMCID: PMC9722735 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.1057913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 07/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The extracellular matrix interacts with cancer cells and is a key factor in the development of cancer. Traditional two-dimensional models cannot mimic the natural in situ environment of cancer tissues, whereas three-dimensional (3D) models such as spherical culture, bioprinting, and microfluidic approaches can achieve in vitro reproduction of certain structures and components of the tumor microenvironment, including simulation of the hypoxic environment of tumor tissue. However, the lack of a perfusable vascular network is a limitation of most 3D models. Solid tumor growth and metastasis require angiogenesis, and tumor models with microvascular networks have been developed to better understand underlying mechanisms. Tumor-on-a-chip technology combines the advantages of microfluidics and 3D cell culture technology for the simulation of tumor tissue complexity and characteristics. In this review, we summarize progress in constructing tumor-on-a-chip models with efficiently perfused vascular networks. We also discuss the applications of tumor-on-a-chip technology to studying the tumor microenvironment and drug development. Finally, we describe the creation of several common tumor models based on this technology to provide a deeper understanding and new insights into the design of vascularized cancer models. We believe that the tumor-on-a-chip approach is an important development that will provide further contributions to the field.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Danxue Li
- *Correspondence: Danxue Li, ; Yang Yao,
| | - Yang Yao
- *Correspondence: Danxue Li, ; Yang Yao,
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15
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Kim S, Wan Z, Jeon JS, Kamm RD. Microfluidic vascular models of tumor cell extravasation. Front Oncol 2022; 12:1052192. [PMID: 36439519 PMCID: PMC9698448 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.1052192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Emerging microfluidic disease models have amply demonstrated their value in many fields of cancer research. These in vitro technologies recapitulate key aspects of metastatic cancer, including the process of tumor cell arrest and extravasation at the site of the metastatic tumor. To date, extensive efforts have been made to capture key features of the microvasculature to reconstitute the pre-metastatic niche and investigate dynamic extravasation behaviors using microfluidic systems. In this mini-review, we highlight recent microfluidic vascular models of tumor cell extravasation and explore how this approach contributes to development of in vitro disease models to enhance understanding of metastasis in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seunggyu Kim
- Mechanobiology Lab, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States
- Biomicrofluidics Lab, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Zhengpeng Wan
- Mechanobiology Lab, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Jessie S. Jeon
- Biomicrofluidics Lab, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Roger D. Kamm
- Mechanobiology Lab, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States
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16
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Mayo LN, Kutys ML. Conversation before crossing: dissecting metastatic tumor-vascular interactions in microphysiological systems. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 2022; 323:C1333-C1344. [PMID: 36121131 PMCID: PMC9602802 DOI: 10.1152/ajpcell.00173.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Revised: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Tumor metastasis via the circulation requires crossing the vascular barrier twice: first, during intravasation when tumor cells disseminate from the primary site through proximal vasculature, and second, during extravasation, when tumor cells exit the circulation to form distant metastatic seeds. During these key metastatic events, chemomechanical signaling between tumor cells and endothelial cells elicits reciprocal changes in cell morphology and behavior that are necessary to breach the vessel wall. Existing experimental systems have provided a limited understanding of the diverse mechanisms underlying tumor-endothelial interactions during intravasation and extravasation. Recent advances in microphysiological systems have revolutionized the ability to generate miniaturized human tissues with tailored three-dimensional architectures, physiological cell interfaces, and precise chemical and physical microenvironments. By doing so, microphysiological systems enable experimental access to complex morphogenic processes associated with human tumor progression with unprecedented resolution and biological control. Here, we discuss recent examples in which microphysiological systems have been leveraged to reveal new mechanistic insight into cellular and molecular control systems operating at the tumor-endothelial interface during intravasation and extravasation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lakyn N Mayo
- Department of Cell and Tissue Biology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
- UCSF-UC Berkeley Joint Graduate Program in Bioengineering, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
- Medical Scientist Training Program, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Matthew L Kutys
- Department of Cell and Tissue Biology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
- UCSF-UC Berkeley Joint Graduate Program in Bioengineering, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
- Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
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17
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Liao M, Qin R, Huang W, Zhu HP, Peng F, Han B, Liu B. Targeting regulated cell death (RCD) with small-molecule compounds in triple-negative breast cancer: a revisited perspective from molecular mechanisms to targeted therapies. J Hematol Oncol 2022; 15:44. [PMID: 35414025 PMCID: PMC9006445 DOI: 10.1186/s13045-022-01260-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a subtype of human breast cancer with one of the worst prognoses, with no targeted therapeutic strategies currently available. Regulated cell death (RCD), also known as programmed cell death (PCD), has been widely reported to have numerous links to the progression and therapy of many types of human cancer. Of note, RCD can be divided into numerous different subroutines, including autophagy-dependent cell death, apoptosis, mitotic catastrophe, necroptosis, ferroptosis, pyroptosis and anoikis. More recently, targeting the subroutines of RCD with small-molecule compounds has been emerging as a promising therapeutic strategy, which has rapidly progressed in the treatment of TNBC. Therefore, in this review, we focus on summarizing the molecular mechanisms of the above-mentioned seven major RCD subroutines related to TNBC and the latest progress of small-molecule compounds targeting different RCD subroutines. Moreover, we further discuss the combined strategies of one drug (e.g., narciclasine) or more drugs (e.g., torin-1 combined with chloroquine) to achieve the therapeutic potential on TNBC by regulating RCD subroutines. More importantly, we demonstrate several small-molecule compounds (e.g., ONC201 and NCT03733119) by targeting the subroutines of RCD in TNBC clinical trials. Taken together, these findings will provide a clue on illuminating more actionable low-hanging-fruit druggable targets and candidate small-molecule drugs for potential RCD-related TNBC therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minru Liao
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, and West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Rui Qin
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Wei Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Hong-Ping Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China.,Antibiotics Research and Re-Evaluation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Industrial Institute of Antibiotics, Chengdu University, Chengdu, China
| | - Fu Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, and West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
| | - Bo Han
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China.
| | - Bo Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, and West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
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18
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Kolarzyk AM, Wong G, Lee E. Lymphatic Tissue and Organ Engineering for In Vitro Modeling and In Vivo Regeneration. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med 2022; 12:a041169. [PMID: 35288402 PMCID: PMC9435571 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a041169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
The lymphatic system has an important role in maintaining fluid homeostasis and transporting immune cells and biomolecules, such as dietary fat, metabolic products, and antigens in different organs and tissues. Therefore, impaired lymphatic vessel function and/or lymphatic vessel deficiency can lead to numerous human diseases. The discovery of lymphatic endothelial markers and prolymphangiogenic growth factors, along with a growing number of in vitro and in vivo models and technologies has expedited research in lymphatic tissue and organ engineering, advancing therapeutic strategies. In this article, we describe lymphatic tissue and organ engineering in two- and three-dimensional culture systems and recently developed microfluidics and organ-on-a-chip systems in vitro. Next, we discuss advances in lymphatic tissue and organ engineering in vivo, focusing on biomaterial and scaffold engineering and their applications for lymphatic vessels and lymphoid organ regeneration. Last, we provide expert perspective and prospects in the field of lymphatic tissue engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna M Kolarzyk
- Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA
- Biomedical and Biological Sciences PhD Program, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA
| | - Gigi Wong
- Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA
- Biological Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA
| | - Esak Lee
- Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA
- Biomedical and Biological Sciences PhD Program, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA
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19
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Logan Howard R, Wang Y, Allbritton NL. Use of liquid lithography to form in vitro intestinal crypts with varying microcurvature surrounding the stem cell niche. JOURNAL OF MICROMECHANICS AND MICROENGINEERING : STRUCTURES, DEVICES, AND SYSTEMS 2021; 31:125006. [PMID: 35241878 PMCID: PMC8887876 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6439/ac2d9c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS The role of the crypt microarchitecture and surrounding tissue curvature on intestinal stem/proliferative cell physiology is unknown. The utility of liquid lithography in creating polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) micropillar stamps with controlled tip curvature was assessed. Using these stamps, the impact of microcurvature at the crypt base on intestinal cell and cytoskeletal behavior was studied. METHODS An SU-8 master mold as a support, polyols of varying surface energies as sacrificial liquids, and liquid PDMS as the solidifiable material were combined using liquid lithography to form PDMS micropillar arrays. Vapor phase deposition of organosilane onto the master mold was used to modify the surface energy of the master mold to shape the micropillar tips. Collagen was molded using the micropillar arrays forming a scaffold for culture of human primary colonic epithelial cells. Cell proliferation and cytoskeletal properties were assessed using fluorescent stains. RESULTS Liquid lithography using low surface energy polyols (<55 dynes/cm) generated convex-tipped PDMS micropillars, while polyols with higher surface energies (>55 dynes/cm) yielded concave-tipped PDMS micropillars. Gradients of octyltrichlorosilane deposition across a master mold with an array of microwells yielded a PDMS micropillar array with a range of tip curvatures. Human primary colonic epithelial cells cultured on micropillar-molded collagen scaffolds demonstrated a stem/proliferative cell compartment at the crypt base. Crypts with a convex base demonstrated significantly lower cell proliferation at the crypt base than that of cells in crypts with either flat or concave bases. Crypts with a convex base also displayed higher levels of G-actin activity compared to that of crypts with flat or concave bases. CONCLUSIONS Liquid lithography enabled creation of arrays of in vitro colonic crypts with programmable curvature. Primary cells at the crypt base sensed and responded to surface curvature by altering their proliferation and cytoskeletal properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Logan Howard
- Marsico Lung Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
- Cystic Fibrosis and Pulmonary Diseases Research and Treatment Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Yuli Wang
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Nancy L Allbritton
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
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20
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Henderson AR, Ilan IS, Lee E. A bioengineered lymphatic vessel model for studying lymphatic endothelial cell-cell junction and barrier function. Microcirculation 2021; 28:e12730. [PMID: 34569678 DOI: 10.1111/micc.12730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2021] [Revised: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Lymphatic vessels (LVs) maintain fluid homeostasis by draining interstitial fluid. A failure in lymphatic drainage triggers lymphatic diseases such as lymphedema. Since lymphatic drainage is regulated by lymphatic barrier function, developing experimental models that assess lymphatic barrier function is critical for better understanding of lymphatic physiology and disease. METHODS We built a lymphatic vessel-on-chip (LV-on-chip) by fabricating a microfluidic device that includes a hollow microchannel embedded in three-dimensional (3D) hydrogel. Employing luminal flow in the microchannel, human lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs) seeded in the microchannel formed an engineered LV exhibiting 3D conduit structure. RESULTS Lymphatic endothelial cells formed relatively permeable junctions in 3D collagen 1. However, adding fibronectin to the collagen 1 apparently tightened LEC junctions. We tested lymphatic barrier function by introducing dextran into LV lumens. While LECs in collagen 1 showed permeable barriers, LECs in fibronectin/collagen 1 showed reduced permeability, which was reversed by integrin α5 inhibition. Mechanistically, LECs expressed inactivated integrin α5 in collagen 1. However, integrin α5 is activated in fibronectin and enhances barrier function. Integrin α5 activation itself also tightened LEC junctions in the absence of fibronectin. CONCLUSIONS Lymphatic vessel-on-chip reveals integrin α5 as a regulator of lymphatic barrier function and provides a platform for studying lymphatic barrier function in various conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aria R Henderson
- Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Isabelle S Ilan
- College of Human Ecology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Esak Lee
- Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
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21
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Slay EE, Meldrum FC, Pensabene V, Amer MH. Embracing Mechanobiology in Next Generation Organ-On-A-Chip Models of Bone Metastasis. FRONTIERS IN MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY 2021; 3:722501. [PMID: 35047952 PMCID: PMC8757701 DOI: 10.3389/fmedt.2021.722501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Bone metastasis in breast cancer is associated with high mortality. Biomechanical cues presented by the extracellular matrix play a vital role in driving cancer metastasis. The lack of in vitro models that recapitulate the mechanical aspects of the in vivo microenvironment hinders the development of novel targeted therapies. Organ-on-a-chip (OOAC) platforms have recently emerged as a new generation of in vitro models that can mimic cell-cell interactions, enable control over fluid flow and allow the introduction of mechanical cues. Biomaterials used within OOAC platforms can determine the physical microenvironment that cells reside in and affect their behavior, adhesion, and localization. Refining the design of OOAC platforms to recreate microenvironmental regulation of metastasis and probe cell-matrix interactions will advance our understanding of breast cancer metastasis and support the development of next-generation metastasis-on-a-chip platforms. In this mini-review, we discuss the role of mechanobiology on the behavior of breast cancer and bone-residing cells, summarize the current capabilities of OOAC platforms for modeling breast cancer metastasis to bone, and highlight design opportunities offered by the incorporation of mechanobiological cues in these platforms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellen E. Slay
- School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | | | - Virginia Pensabene
- School of School of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
- School of Medicine, Leeds Institute of Medical Research, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Mahetab H. Amer
- School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
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Gaining Micropattern Fidelity in an NOA81 Microsieve Laser Ablation Process. MICROMACHINES 2020; 12:mi12010021. [PMID: 33375445 PMCID: PMC7823379 DOI: 10.3390/mi12010021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2020] [Revised: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 12/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
We studied the micropattern fidelity of a Norland Optical Adhesive 81 (NOA81) microsieve made by soft-lithography and laser micromachining. Ablation opens replicated cavities, resulting in three-dimensional (3D) micropores. We previously demonstrated that microsieves can capture cells by passive pumping. Flow, capture yield, and cell survival depend on the control of the micropore geometry and must yield high reproducibility within the device and from device to device. We investigated the NOA81 film thickness, the laser pulse repetition rate, the number of pulses, and the beam focusing distance. For NOA81 films spin-coated between 600 and 1200 rpm, the pulse number controls the breaching of films to form the pore’s aperture and dominates the process. Pulse repetition rates between 50 and 200 Hz had no observable influence. We also explored laser focal plane to substrate distance to find the most effective ablation conditions. Scanning electron micrographs (SEM) of focused ion beam (FIB)-cut cross sections of the NOA81 micropores and inverted micropore copies in polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) show a smooth surface topology with minimal debris. Our studies reveal that the combined process allows for a 3D micropore quality from device to device with a large enough process window for biological studies.
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Kwak TJ, Lee E. In vitro modeling of solid tumor interactions with perfused blood vessels. Sci Rep 2020; 10:20142. [PMID: 33214583 PMCID: PMC7677310 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-77180-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2020] [Accepted: 11/06/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Molecular crosstalk between intra-tumor blood vessels and tumor cells plays many critical roles in tumorigenesis and cancer metastasis. However, it has been very difficult to investigate the biochemical mechanisms underlying the overlapping, multifactorial processes that occur at the tumor-vascular interface using conventional murine models alone. Moreover, traditional two-dimensional (2D) culture models used in cancer research do not recapitulate aspects of the 3D tumor microenvironment. In the present study, we introduce a microfluidic model of the solid tumor-vascular interface composed of a human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC)-lined, perfusable, bioengineered blood vessel and tumor spheroids embedded in an extracellular matrix (ECM). We sought to optimize our model by varying the composition of the tumor spheroids (MDA-MB-231 breast tumor cells + mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs)/human lung fibroblasts (HLFs)/HUVECs) and the extracellular matrix (ECM: collagen, Matrigel, and fibrin gels with or without free HLFs) that we used. Our results indicate that culturing tumor spheroids containing MDA-MB-231 cells + HUVECs in an HLF-laden, fibrin-based ECM within our microfluidic device optimally (1) enhances the sprouting and migration of tumor spheroids, (2) promotes angiogenesis, (3) facilitates vascular invasion, and (4) preserves the structural integrity and functionality of HUVEC-lined microfluidic channels. This model may provide a platform for drug screening and mechanism studies on solid tumor interactions with functional blood vessels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tae Joon Kwak
- Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Esak Lee
- Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA.
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