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Farahani MK, Gharibshahian M, Rezvani A, Vaez A. Breast cancer brain metastasis: from etiology to state-of-the-art modeling. J Biol Eng 2023; 17:41. [PMID: 37386445 DOI: 10.1186/s13036-023-00352-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Currently, breast carcinoma is the most common form of malignancy and the main cause of cancer mortality in women worldwide. The metastasis of cancer cells from the primary tumor site to other organs in the body, notably the lungs, bones, brain, and liver, is what causes breast cancer to ultimately be fatal. Brain metastases occur in as many as 30% of patients with advanced breast cancer, and the 1-year survival rate of these patients is around 20%. Many researchers have focused on brain metastasis, but due to its complexities, many aspects of this process are still relatively unclear. To develop and test novel therapies for this fatal condition, pre-clinical models are required that can mimic the biological processes involved in breast cancer brain metastasis (BCBM). The application of many breakthroughs in the area of tissue engineering has resulted in the development of scaffold or matrix-based culture methods that more accurately imitate the original extracellular matrix (ECM) of metastatic tumors. Furthermore, specific cell lines are now being used to create three-dimensional (3D) cultures that can be used to model metastasis. These 3D cultures satisfy the requirement for in vitro methodologies that allow for a more accurate investigation of the molecular pathways as well as a more in-depth examination of the effects of the medication being tested. In this review, we talk about the latest advances in modeling BCBM using cell lines, animals, and tissue engineering methods.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Maliheh Gharibshahian
- Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Shahroud University of Medical Sciences, Shahroud, Iran
| | - Alireza Rezvani
- Hematology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
| | - Ahmad Vaez
- Department of Tissue Engineering and Applied Cell Sciences, School of Advanced Medical Sciences and Technologies, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
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2
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Sood A, Kumar A, Gupta VK, Kim CM, Han SS. Translational Nanomedicines Across Human Reproductive Organs Modeling on Microfluidic Chips: State-of-the-Art and Future Prospects. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2023; 9:62-84. [PMID: 36541361 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.2c01080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Forecasting the consequence of nanoparticles (NPs) and therapeutically significant molecules before materializing for human clinical trials is a mainstay for drug delivery and screening processes. One of the noteworthy obstacles that has prevented the clinical translation of NP-based drug delivery systems and novel drugs is the lack of effective preclinical platforms. As a revolutionary technology, the organ-on-a-chip (OOC), a coalition of microfluidics and tissue engineering, has surfaced as an alternative to orthodox screening platforms. OOC technology recapitulates the structural and physiological features of human organs along with intercommunications between tissues on a chip. The current review discusses the concept of microfluidics and confers cutting-edge fabrication processes for chip designing. We also outlined the advantages of microfluidics in analyzing NPs in terms of characterization, transport, and degradation in biological systems. The review further elaborates the scope and research on translational nanomedicines in human reproductive organs (testis, placenta, uterus, and menstrual cycle) by taking the advantages offered by microfluidics and shedding light on their potential future implications. Finally, we accentuate the existing challenges for clinical translation and scale-up dynamics for microfluidics chips and emphasize its future perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ankur Sood
- School of Chemical Engineering, Yeungnam University, 280 Daehak-ro, Gyeongsan 38541, South Korea
| | - Anuj Kumar
- School of Chemical Engineering, Yeungnam University, 280 Daehak-ro, Gyeongsan 38541, South Korea.,Institute of Cell Culture, Yeungnam University, 280 Daehak-ro, Gyeongsan 38541, South Korea
| | - Vijai Kumar Gupta
- Biorefining and Advanced Materials Research Center, Scotland's Rural College, Edinburgh EH9 3JG, United Kingdom
| | - Chul Min Kim
- Department of Mechatronics Engineering, Gyeongsang National University, 33 Dongjin-ro, Jinju, Gyeongsangnam-do 52725, South Korea
| | - Sung Soo Han
- School of Chemical Engineering, Yeungnam University, 280 Daehak-ro, Gyeongsan 38541, South Korea.,Institute of Cell Culture, Yeungnam University, 280 Daehak-ro, Gyeongsan 38541, South Korea
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Kim Y, Ko J, Shin N, Park S, Lee SR, Kim S, Song J, Lee S, Kang KS, Lee J, Jeon NL. All-in-One microfluidic design to integrate vascularized tumor spheroid into high-throughput platform. Biotechnol Bioeng 2022; 119:3678-3693. [PMID: 36043394 DOI: 10.1002/bit.28221] [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: 03/17/2022] [Revised: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The development of a scalable and highly reproducible in vitro tumor microenvironment (TME) platform still sheds light on new insights into cancer metastasis mechanisms and anticancer therapeutic strategies. Here, we present an all-in-one injection molded plastic array 3D culture platform (All-in-One-IMPACT) that integrates vascularized tumor spheroids for highly reproducible, high-throughput experimentation. This device allows the formation of self-assembled cell spheroids on a chip by applying the hanging drop method to the cell culture channel. Then, when the hydrogel containing endothelial cells and fibroblasts is injected, the spheroid inside the droplet can be patterned together in three dimensions along the culture channel. In just two steps above, we can build a vascularized TME within a defined area. This process does not require specialized user skill and minimizes error-inducing steps, enabling both reproducibility and high-throughput of the experiment. We have successfully demonstrated the process, from spheroid formation to tumor vascularization, using patient-derived cancer cells (PDCs) as well as various cancer cell lines. Furthermore, we performed combination therapies with Taxol (paclitaxel) and Avastin (bevacizumab), which are used in standard care for metastatic cancer. The All-in-One IMPACT is a powerful tool for establishing various anticancer treatment strategies through the development of a complex TME for use in high-throughput experiments. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youngtaek Kim
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jihoon Ko
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.,Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Nari Shin
- Adult Stem Cell Research Center and Research Institute for Veterinary Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Seonghyuk Park
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung-Ryeol Lee
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Suryong Kim
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jiyoung Song
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Seokjun Lee
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyung-Sun Kang
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeeyun Lee
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.,Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Samsung Advanced Institute for Health Science and Technology, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Noo Li Jeon
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.,Institute of Advanced Machinery and Design Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.,Institute of Bioengineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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4
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Iemura K, Anzawa H, Funayama R, Iwakami R, Nakayama K, Kinoshita K, Tanaka K. High levels of chromosomal instability facilitate the tumor growth and sphere formation. Cancer Sci 2022; 113:2727-2737. [PMID: 35662350 PMCID: PMC9357619 DOI: 10.1111/cas.15457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Revised: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 06/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Most cancer cells show chromosomal instability (CIN), a condition in which chromosome missegregation occurs at high rates. Growing evidence suggests that CIN is not just a consequence of, but a driving force for, oncogenic transformation, although the relationship between CIN and tumorigenesis has not been fully elucidated. Here we found that conventional two‐dimensional (2D) culture of HeLa cells, a cervical cancer‐derived cell line, was a heterogenous population containing cells with different CIN levels. Although cells with high‐CIN levels (high‐CIN cells) grew more slowly compared with cells with low‐CIN levels (low‐CIN cells) in 2D monolayer culture, they formed tumors in nude mice and larger spheres in three‐dimensional (3D) culture, which was more representative of the in vivo environment. The duration of mitosis was longer in high‐CIN cells, reflecting their higher mitotic defects. Single‐cell genome sequencing revealed that high‐CIN cells exhibited a higher karyotype heterogeneity compared with low‐CIN cells. Intriguingly, the karyotype heterogeneity was reduced in the spheres formed by high‐CIN cells, suggesting that cells with growth advantages were selected, although genomic copy number changes specific for spheres were not identified. When we examined gene expression profiles, genes related to the K‐ras signaling were upregulated, while those related to the unfolded protein response were downregulated in high‐CIN cells in 3D culture compared with 2D culture, suggesting the relevance of these genes for their survival. Our data suggested that, although CIN is disadvantageous in monolayer culture, it promotes the selection of cells with growth advantages under in vivo environments, which may lead to tumorigenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenji Iemura
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer Tohoku University Sendai, Miyagi 980‐8575 Japan
| | - Hayato Anzawa
- Department of Applied Information Sciences, Graduate School of Information Sciences Tohoku University Sendai, Miyagi 980‐8579 Japan
| | - Ryo Funayama
- Department of Cell Proliferation, ART, Graduate School of Medicine Tohoku University Sendai, Miyagi 980‐8575 Japan
| | - Runa Iwakami
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer Tohoku University Sendai, Miyagi 980‐8575 Japan
| | - Keiko Nakayama
- Department of Cell Proliferation, ART, Graduate School of Medicine Tohoku University Sendai, Miyagi 980‐8575 Japan
| | - Kengo Kinoshita
- Department of Applied Information Sciences, Graduate School of Information Sciences Tohoku University Sendai, Miyagi 980‐8579 Japan
- Tohoku Medical Megabank Organization Tohoku University Sendai, Miyagi 980‐8573 Japan
- Advanced Research Center for Innovations in Next‐Generation Medicine Tohoku University Sendai, Miyagi 980‐8573 Japan
| | - Kozo Tanaka
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer Tohoku University Sendai, Miyagi 980‐8575 Japan
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Prabhu L, Martin M, Chen L, Demir Ö, Jin J, Huang X, Motolani A, Sun M, Jiang G, Nakshatri H, Fishel ML, Sun S, Safa A, Amaro RE, Kelley MR, Liu Y, Zhang ZY, Lu T. Inhibition of PRMT5 by market drugs as a novel cancer therapeutic avenue. Genes Dis 2022; 10:267-283. [PMID: 37013054 PMCID: PMC10066340 DOI: 10.1016/j.gendis.2022.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Revised: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Market drugs, such as Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or European Medicines Agency (EMA)-approved drugs for specific indications provide opportunities for repurposing for newer therapeutics. This potentially saves resources invested in clinical trials that verify drug safety and tolerance in humans prior to alternative indication approval. Protein arginine methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5) overexpression has been linked to promoting the tumor phenotype in several cancers, including pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), colorectal cancer (CRC), and breast cancer (BC), making PRMT5 an important target for cancer therapy. Previously, we showed that PRMT5-mediated methylation of the nuclear factor (NF)-κB, partially contributes to its constitutive activation observed in cancers. In this study, we utilized an AlphaLISA-based high-throughput screening method adapted in our lab, and identified one FDA-approved drug, Candesartan cilexetil (Can, used in hypertension treatment) and one EMA-approved drug, Cloperastine hydrochloride (Clo, used in cough treatment) that had significant PRMT5-inhibitory activity, and their anti-tumor properties were validated using cancer phenotypic assays in vitro. Furthermore, PRMT5 selective inhibition of methyltransferase activity was confirmed by reduction of both NF-κB methylation and its subsequent activation upon drug treatment. Using in silico prediction, we identified critical residues on PRMT5 targeted by these drugs that may interfere with its enzymatic activity. Finally, Clo and Can treatment have exhibited marked reduction in tumor growth in vivo. Overall, we provide basis for pursuing repurposing Clo and Can as anti-PRMT5 cancer therapies. Our study offers potential safe and fast repurposing of previously unknown PRMT5 inhibitors into clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lakshmi Prabhu
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Matthew Martin
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Lan Chen
- Chemical Genomics Core Facility, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Özlem Demir
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, CA 92093, USA
| | - Jiamin Jin
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Xiumei Huang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Aishat Motolani
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Mengyao Sun
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Guanglong Jiang
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Harikrishna Nakshatri
- Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Melissa L. Fishel
- Department of Pediatrics, Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
- Indiana University Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Steven Sun
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Ahmad Safa
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Rommie E. Amaro
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, CA 92093, USA
| | - Mark R. Kelley
- Department of Pediatrics, Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
- Indiana University Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Yunlong Liu
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Zhong-Yin Zhang
- Chemical Genomics Core Facility, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Tao Lu
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
- Indiana University Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
- Corresponding author. Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, 635 Barnhill Drive, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA. Tel.: +(317) 278 0520; fax: +(317) 274 7714.
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Gallegos-Martínez S, Lara-Mayorga IM, Samandari M, Mendoza-Buenrostro C, Flores-Garza BG, Reyes-Cortés L, Segoviano-Ramírez JC, Zhang YS, Trujillo de Santiago G, Alvarez MM. Culture of cancer spheroids and evaluation of anti-cancer drugs in 3D-printed miniaturized continuous stirred tank reactors (mCSTR). Biofabrication 2022; 14. [PMID: 35344936 DOI: 10.1088/1758-5090/ac61a4] [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: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Cancer continues to be a leading cause of mortality in modern societies; therefore, improved and more reliable in vitro cancer models are needed to expedite fundamental research and anti-cancer drug development. Here, we describe the use of a miniaturized continuous stirred tank reactor (mCSTR) to first fabricate and mature cancer spheroids (i.e, derived from MCF7 cells, DU145 cells, and a mix of MCF7 cells and fibroblasts), and then to conduct anti-cancer drug assays under continuous perfusion. This 3 mL mCSTR features an off-center agitation system that enables homogeneous chaotic laminar mixing at low speeds to support cell aggregation. We incubated cell suspensions for 3 days in ultra-low-adherence (ULA) plates to allow formation of discoid cell aggregates (~600 µm in diameter). These cell aggregates were then transferred into mCSTRs and continuously fed with culture medium. We characterized the spheroid morphology and the expression of relevant tumor biomarkers at different maturation times for up to 4 weeks. The spheroids progressively increased in size during the first 5 to 6 days of culture to reach a steady diameter between 600 and 800 µm. In proof-of-principle experiments, we demonstrated the use of this mCSTR in anti-cancer drug testing. Three drugs commonly used in breast cancer treatment (doxorubicin, docetaxel, and paclitaxel) were probed at different concentrations in MCF7 derived spheroids. In these experiments, we evaluated cell viability, glucose consumption, spheroid morphology, lactate dehydrogenase activity, and the expression of genes associated with drug resistance (ABCB1 and ABCC1) and anti-apoptosis (Bcl2). We envision the use of this agitated system as a tumor-on-a-chip platform to expedite efficacy and safety testing of novel anti-cancer drugs and possibly in personalized medicine applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salvador Gallegos-Martínez
- Centro de Biotecnología-FEMSA, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Ave. Eugenio Garza Sada 2501 sur, Col. Tecnológico, Monterrey, Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, 64849, MEXICO
| | - Itzel Montserrat Lara-Mayorga
- Centro de Biotecnología-FEMSA, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Ave. Eugenio Garza Sada 2501 sur, Col. Tecnológico, Monterrey, Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, 64849, MEXICO
| | - Mohamadmahdi Samandari
- University of Connecticut Health Center, 263 Farmington Avenue, Farmington, Connecticut, 06032-1941, UNITED STATES
| | - Christian Mendoza-Buenrostro
- Centro de Innovación en Diseño y Tecnología, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Ave. Eugenio Garza Sada 2501 sur, Monterrey, Nuevo León, 64849, MEXICO
| | - Brenda Giselle Flores-Garza
- Centro de Biotecnología-FEMSA, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Ave. Eugenio Garza Sada 2501 sur, Col. Tecnológico, Monterrey, Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, 64849, MEXICO
| | - Luisa Reyes-Cortés
- Centro de Biotecnología-FEMSA, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Ave. Eugenio Garza Sada 2501 sur, Col. Tecnológico, Monterrey, Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, 64849, MEXICO
| | - Juan Carlos Segoviano-Ramírez
- Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon, Dr. José Eleuterio González (Gonzalitos), Mitras Centro, San Nicolas de los Garza, Nuevo Leon, 64460, MEXICO
| | - Yu Shrike Zhang
- Harvard Medical School, 65 Landsdowne Street, Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, UNITED STATES
| | - Grissel Trujillo de Santiago
- Centro de Biotecnología-FEMSA, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Ave. Eugenio Garza Sada 2501 sur, Col. Tecnológico, Monterrey, Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, 64849, MEXICO
| | - Mario Moisés Alvarez
- Centro de Biotecnología-FEMSA, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Ave. Eugenio Garza Sada 2501 sur, Col. Tecnológico, Monterrey, Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, 64849, MEXICO
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7
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Bodke VV, Burdette JE. Advancements in Microfluidic Systems for the Study of Female Reproductive Biology. Endocrinology 2021; 162:6225875. [PMID: 33852726 PMCID: PMC8571709 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqab078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The female reproductive tract is a highly complex physiological system that consists of the ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, cervix, and vagina. An enhanced understanding of the molecular, cellular, and genetic mechanisms of the tract will allow for the development of more effective assisted reproductive technologies, therapeutics, and screening strategies for female specific disorders. Traditional 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional static culture systems may not always reflect the cellular and physical contexts or physicochemical microenvironment necessary to understand the dynamic exchange that is crucial for the functioning of the reproductive system. Microfluidic systems present a unique opportunity to study the female reproductive tract, as these systems recapitulate the multicellular architecture, contacts between different tissues, and microenvironmental cues that largely influence cell structure, function, behavior, and growth. This review discusses examples, challenges, and benefits of using microfluidic systems to model ovaries, fallopian tubes, endometrium, and placenta. Additionally, this review also briefly discusses the use of these systems in studying the effects of endocrine disrupting chemicals and diseases such as ovarian cancer, preeclampsia, and polycystic ovarian syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vedant V Bodke
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois at Chicago 60607, USA
| | - Joanna E Burdette
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois at Chicago 60607, USA
- Correspondence: Joanna E. Burdette, PhD, University of Illinois at Chicago, 900 S. Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL 60607, USA.
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Organ-on-chip applications in drug discovery: an end user perspective. Biochem Soc Trans 2021; 49:1881-1890. [PMID: 34397080 PMCID: PMC8421049 DOI: 10.1042/bst20210840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2021] [Revised: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Organ-on-chip (OoC) systems are in vitro microfluidic models that mimic the microstructures, functions and physiochemical environments of whole living organs more accurately than two-dimensional models. While still in their infancy, OoCs are expected to bring ground-breaking benefits to a myriad of applications, enabling more human-relevant candidate drug efficacy and toxicity studies, and providing greater insights into mechanisms of human disease. Here, we explore a selection of applications of OoC systems. The future directions and scope of implementing OoCs across the drug discovery process are also discussed.
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Liu X, Fang J, Huang S, Wu X, Xie X, Wang J, Liu F, Zhang M, Peng Z, Hu N. Tumor-on-a-chip: from bioinspired design to biomedical application. MICROSYSTEMS & NANOENGINEERING 2021; 7:50. [PMID: 34567763 PMCID: PMC8433302 DOI: 10.1038/s41378-021-00277-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2020] [Revised: 04/09/2021] [Accepted: 04/15/2021] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Cancer is one of the leading causes of human death, despite enormous efforts to explore cancer biology and develop anticancer therapies. The main challenges in cancer research are establishing an efficient tumor microenvironment in vitro and exploring efficient means for screening anticancer drugs to reveal the nature of cancer and develop treatments. The tumor microenvironment possesses human-specific biophysical and biochemical factors that are difficult to recapitulate in conventional in vitro planar cell models and in vivo animal models. Therefore, model limitations have hindered the translation of basic research findings to clinical applications. In this review, we introduce the recent progress in tumor-on-a-chip devices for cancer biology research, medicine assessment, and biomedical applications in detail. The emerging tumor-on-a-chip platforms integrating 3D cell culture, microfluidic technology, and tissue engineering have successfully mimicked the pivotal structural and functional characteristics of the in vivo tumor microenvironment. The recent advances in tumor-on-a-chip platforms for cancer biology studies and biomedical applications are detailed and analyzed in this review. This review should be valuable for further understanding the mechanisms of the tumor evolution process, screening anticancer drugs, and developing cancer therapies, and it addresses the challenges and potential opportunities in predicting drug screening and cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingxing Liu
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, State Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Materials and Technologies, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Display Material and Technology, School of Electronics and Information Technology, Sun Yat-Sen University, 510006 Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiaru Fang
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, State Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Materials and Technologies, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Display Material and Technology, School of Electronics and Information Technology, Sun Yat-Sen University, 510006 Guangzhou, China
| | - Shuang Huang
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, State Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Materials and Technologies, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Display Material and Technology, School of Electronics and Information Technology, Sun Yat-Sen University, 510006 Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaoxue Wu
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, State Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Materials and Technologies, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Display Material and Technology, School of Electronics and Information Technology, Sun Yat-Sen University, 510006 Guangzhou, China
| | - Xi Xie
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, State Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Materials and Technologies, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Display Material and Technology, School of Electronics and Information Technology, Sun Yat-Sen University, 510006 Guangzhou, China
| | - Ji Wang
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, State Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Materials and Technologies, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Display Material and Technology, School of Electronics and Information Technology, Sun Yat-Sen University, 510006 Guangzhou, China
| | - Fanmao Liu
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, State Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Materials and Technologies, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Display Material and Technology, School of Electronics and Information Technology, Sun Yat-Sen University, 510006 Guangzhou, China
| | - Meng Zhang
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, State Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Materials and Technologies, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Display Material and Technology, School of Electronics and Information Technology, Sun Yat-Sen University, 510006 Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhenwei Peng
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, State Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Materials and Technologies, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Display Material and Technology, School of Electronics and Information Technology, Sun Yat-Sen University, 510006 Guangzhou, China
| | - Ning Hu
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, State Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Materials and Technologies, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Display Material and Technology, School of Electronics and Information Technology, Sun Yat-Sen University, 510006 Guangzhou, China
- State Key Laboratory of Transducer Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 200050 Shanghai, China
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10
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Clark AM, Allbritton NL, Wells A. Integrative microphysiological tissue systems of cancer metastasis to the liver. Semin Cancer Biol 2021; 71:157-169. [PMID: 32580025 PMCID: PMC7750290 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2020.06.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2020] [Revised: 06/10/2020] [Accepted: 06/10/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The liver is the most commonly involved organ in metastases from a wide variety of solid tumors. The use of biologically and cellularly complex liver tissue systems have shown that tumor cell behavior and therapeutic responses are modulated within the liver microenvironment and in ways distinct from the behaviors in the primary locations. These microphysiological systems have provided unexpected and powerful insights into the tumor cell biology of metastasis. However, neither the tumor nor the liver exist in an isolated tissue situation, having to function within a complete body and respond to systemic events as well as those in other organs. To examine the influence of one organ on the function of other tissues, microphysiological systems are being linked. Herein, we discuss extending this concept to tumor metastases by integrating complex models of the primary tumor with the liver metastatic environment. In addition, inflammatory organs and the immune system can be incorporated into these multi-organ systems to probe the effects on tumor behavior and cancer treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda M Clark
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA; VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
| | - Nancy L Allbritton
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Alan Wells
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA; VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA; Department of Computational & Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
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11
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Hachey SJ, Movsesyan S, Nguyen QH, Burton-Sojo G, Tankazyan A, Wu J, Hoang T, Zhao D, Wang S, Hatch MM, Celaya E, Gomez S, Chen GT, Davis RT, Nee K, Pervolarakis N, Lawson DA, Kessenbrock K, Lee AP, Lowengrub J, Waterman ML, Hughes CCW. An in vitro vascularized micro-tumor model of human colorectal cancer recapitulates in vivo responses to standard-of-care therapy. LAB ON A CHIP 2021; 21:1333-1351. [PMID: 33605955 PMCID: PMC8525497 DOI: 10.1039/d0lc01216e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2020] [Accepted: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Around 95% of anti-cancer drugs that show promise during preclinical study fail to gain FDA-approval for clinical use. This failure of the preclinical pipeline highlights the need for improved, physiologically-relevant in vitro models that can better serve as reliable drug-screening and disease modeling tools. The vascularized micro-tumor (VMT) is a novel three-dimensional model system (tumor-on-a-chip) that recapitulates the complex human tumor microenvironment, including perfused vasculature, within a transparent microfluidic device, allowing real-time study of drug responses and tumor-stromal interactions. Here we have validated this microphysiological system (MPS) platform for the study of colorectal cancer (CRC), the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths, by showing that gene expression, tumor heterogeneity, and treatment responses in the VMT more closely model CRC tumor clinicopathology than current standard drug screening modalities, including 2-dimensional monolayer culture and 3-dimensional spheroids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie J. Hachey
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, IrvineIrvineCA92697USA
| | - Silva Movsesyan
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, IrvineIrvineCA92697USA
| | - Quy H. Nguyen
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, IrvineIrvineCA92697USA
| | - Giselle Burton-Sojo
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, IrvineIrvineCA92697USA
| | - Ani Tankazyan
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, IrvineIrvineCA92697USA
| | - Jie Wu
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, IrvineIrvineCA92697USA
| | - Tuyen Hoang
- Department of Biostatistics, University of California, IrvineIrvineCA92697USA
| | - Da Zhao
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, IrvineIrvineCA92697USA
| | - Shuxiong Wang
- Department of Mathematics, University of California, IrvineIrvineCA92697USA
| | - Michaela M. Hatch
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, IrvineIrvineCA92697USA
| | - Elizabeth Celaya
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, IrvineIrvineCA92697USA
| | - Samantha Gomez
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, IrvineIrvineCA92697USA
| | - George T. Chen
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, IrvineIrvineCA92697USA
| | - Ryan T. Davis
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of California, IrvineIrvineCA92697USA
| | - Kevin Nee
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, IrvineIrvineCA92697USA
| | - Nicholas Pervolarakis
- Center for Complex Biological Systems, University of California, IrvineIrvineCA92697USA
| | - Devon A. Lawson
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of California, IrvineIrvineCA92697USA
| | - Kai Kessenbrock
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, IrvineIrvineCA92697USA
| | - Abraham P. Lee
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, IrvineIrvineCA92697USA
| | - John Lowengrub
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, IrvineIrvineCA92697USA
- Department of Mathematics, University of California, IrvineIrvineCA92697USA
- Center for Complex Biological Systems, University of California, IrvineIrvineCA92697USA
| | - Marian L. Waterman
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, IrvineIrvineCA92697USA
| | - Christopher C. W. Hughes
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, IrvineIrvineCA92697USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, IrvineIrvineCA92697USA
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12
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Abstract
Recreating human organ-level function in vitro is a rapidly evolving field that integrates tissue engineering, stem cell biology, and microfluidic technology to produce 3D organoids. A critical component of all organs is the vasculature. Herein, we discuss general strategies to create vascularized organoids, including common source materials, and survey previous work using vascularized organoids to recreate specific organ functions and simulate tumor progression. Vascularization is not only an essential component of individual organ function but also responsible for coupling the fate of all organs and their functions. While some success in coupling two or more organs together on a single platform has been demonstrated, we argue that the future of vascularized organoid technology lies in creating organoid systems complete with tissue-specific microvasculature and in coupling multiple organs through a dynamic vascular network to create systems that can respond to changing physiological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Venktesh S Shirure
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Davis, California 95616, USA;
| | - Christopher C W Hughes
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, California 92697, USA
| | - Steven C George
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Davis, California 95616, USA;
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13
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Yoon PS, Del Piccolo N, Shirure VS, Peng Y, Kirane A, Canter RJ, Fields RC, George SC, Gholami S. Advances in Modeling the Immune Microenvironment of Colorectal Cancer. Front Immunol 2021; 11:614300. [PMID: 33643296 PMCID: PMC7902698 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.614300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 12/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer and second leading cause of cancer-related death in the US. CRC frequently metastasizes to the liver and these patients have a particularly poor prognosis. The infiltration of immune cells into CRC tumors and liver metastases accurately predicts disease progression and patient survival. Despite the evident influence of immune cells in the CRC tumor microenvironment (TME), efforts to identify immunotherapies for CRC patients have been limited. Here, we argue that preclinical model systems that recapitulate key features of the tumor microenvironment-including tumor, stromal, and immune cells; the extracellular matrix; and the vasculature-are crucial for studies of immunity in the CRC TME and the utility of immunotherapies for CRC patients. We briefly review the discoveries, advantages, and disadvantages of current in vitro and in vivo model systems, including 2D cell culture models, 3D culture systems, murine models, and organ-on-a-chip technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Sukwoo Yoon
- Department of Surgery, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, United States
| | - Nuala Del Piccolo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Venktesh S Shirure
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Yushuan Peng
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Amanda Kirane
- Department of Surgery, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, United States
| | - Robert J Canter
- Department of Surgery, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, United States
| | - Ryan C Fields
- Department of Surgery, The Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Steven C George
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Sepideh Gholami
- Department of Surgery, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, United States
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14
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Maharjan S, Cecen B, Zhang YS. 3D Immunocompetent Organ-on-a-Chip Models. SMALL METHODS 2020; 4:2000235. [PMID: 33072861 PMCID: PMC7567338 DOI: 10.1002/smtd.202000235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2020] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, engineering of various human tissues in microphysiologically relevant platforms, known as organs-on-chips (OOCs), has been explored to establish in vitro tissue models that recapitulate the microenvironments found in native organs and tissues. However, most of these models have overlooked the important roles of immune cells in maintaining tissue homeostasis under physiological conditions and in modulating the tissue microenvironments during pathophysiology. Significantly, gradual progress is being made in the development of more sophisticated microphysiologically relevant human-based OOC models that allow the studies of the key biophysiological aspects of specific tissues or organs, interactions between cells (parenchymal, vascular, and immune cells) and their extracellular matrix molecules, effects of native tissue architectures (geometry, dynamic flow or mechanical forces) on tissue functions, as well as unravelling the mechanism underlying tissue-specific diseases and drug testing. In this Progress Report, we discuss the different components of the immune system, as well as immune OOC platforms and immunocompetent OOC approaches that have simulated one or more components of the immune system. We also outline the challenges to recreate a fully functional tissue system in vitro with a focus on the incorporation of the immune system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sushila Maharjan
- Division of Engineering in Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Berivan Cecen
- Division of Engineering in Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA 02139, 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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15
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Sewell-Loftin MK, Katz JB, George SC, Longmore GD. Micro-strains in the extracellular matrix induce angiogenesis. LAB ON A CHIP 2020; 20:2776-2787. [PMID: 32614340 PMCID: PMC7659465 DOI: 10.1039/d0lc00145g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
An improved understanding of biomechanical factors that control tumor development, including angiogenesis, could explain why few of the promising treatment strategies discovered via in vitro models translate well into in vivo or clinical studies. The ability to manipulate and in real-time study the multiple independent biomechanical properties on cellular activity has been limited, primarily due to limitations in traditional in vitro platforms or the inability to manipulate such factors in vivo. We present a novel microfluidic platform that mimics the vascularized tumor microenvironment with independent control of interstitial flow and mechanical strain. The microtissue platform design isolates mechanically-stimulated angiogenesis in the tumor microenvironment, by manipulating interstitial flow to eliminate soluble factors that could drive blood vessel growth. Our studies demonstrate that enhanced mechanical strain induced by cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) promotes angiogenesis in microvasculature models, even when preventing diffusion of soluble factors to the growing vasculature. Moreover, small but significant decreases in micro-strains induced by inhibited CAFs were sufficient to reduce angiogenesis. Ultimately, we believe this platform represents a significant advancement in the ability to investigate biomechanical signals while controlling for biochemical signals, with a potential to be utilized in fields beyond cancer research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary Kathryn Sewell-Loftin
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Wallace Tumor Institute, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1824 6th Avenue South, Room 630A, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA.
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16
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Wu Q, Liu J, Wang X, Feng L, Wu J, Zhu X, Wen W, Gong X. Organ-on-a-chip: recent breakthroughs and future prospects. Biomed Eng Online 2020; 19:9. [PMID: 32050989 PMCID: PMC7017614 DOI: 10.1186/s12938-020-0752-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 326] [Impact Index Per Article: 81.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2019] [Accepted: 02/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The organ-on-a-chip (OOAC) is in the list of top 10 emerging technologies and refers to a physiological organ biomimetic system built on a microfluidic chip. Through a combination of cell biology, engineering, and biomaterial technology, the microenvironment of the chip simulates that of the organ in terms of tissue interfaces and mechanical stimulation. This reflects the structural and functional characteristics of human tissue and can predict response to an array of stimuli including drug responses and environmental effects. OOAC has broad applications in precision medicine and biological defense strategies. Here, we introduce the concepts of OOAC and review its application to the construction of physiological models, drug development, and toxicology from the perspective of different organs. We further discuss existing challenges and provide future perspectives for its application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qirui Wu
- Materials Genome Institute, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444 China
| | - Jinfeng Liu
- Materials Genome Institute, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444 China
| | - Xiaohong Wang
- Materials Genome Institute, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444 China
| | - Lingyan Feng
- Materials Genome Institute, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444 China
| | - Jinbo Wu
- Materials Genome Institute, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444 China
| | - Xiaoli Zhu
- School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444 China
| | - Weijia Wen
- Materials Genome Institute, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444 China
| | - Xiuqing Gong
- Materials Genome Institute, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444 China
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17
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Effects of microtubule-inhibiting small molecule and antibody-drug conjugate treatment on differentially-sized A431 squamous carcinoma spheroids. Sci Rep 2020; 10:907. [PMID: 31969631 PMCID: PMC6976639 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-57789-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2019] [Accepted: 12/13/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Multicellular tumor spheroids have been increasingly used by researchers to produce more physiologically relevant experimental environments. However, tracking of spheroid growth and treatment-induced volume reduction has not been readily adopted. Here, squamous carcinoma cells were seeded at different starting cell numbers with growth and reduction kinetics monitored using live cell imaging. Following the initial growth phase, spheroids were treated with auristatin as small molecule (MMAE) or as antibody-drug conjugate containing non-cleavable auristatin drug payload (033-F). Compared to cells in monolayers, 033-F had notably weaker potency against spheroids despite potency levels of MMAE being similar against monolayers and spheroids. Accumulation of released payload from 033-F was reduced in higher volume spheroids, likely contributing to the potency differences. Despite lowered potency towards spheroids with 033-F, spheroid volume was still readily reduced by 033-F in a dose-dependent fashion, with >85% volume reductions at the highest concentrations for all spheroid sizes. Additionally, the core of the larger spheroids showed more resiliency towards microtubule inhibition. Overall, this work highlights how various in-vivo 'features' such as tumor penetration, cell interactions, and increased resistance to therapeutics can be integrated into a spheroid model and tracked over time by automated imaging technology.
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18
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Weng KC, Kurokawa YK, Hajek BS, Paladin JA, Shirure VS, George SC. Human Induced Pluripotent Stem-Cardiac-Endothelial-Tumor-on-a-Chip to Assess Anticancer Efficacy and Cardiotoxicity. Tissue Eng Part C Methods 2020; 26:44-55. [PMID: 31797733 DOI: 10.1089/ten.tec.2019.0248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer remains a leading health threat in the United States, and cardiovascular drug toxicity is a primary cause to eliminate a drug from FDA approval. As a result, the demand to develop new anticancer drugs without cardiovascular toxicity is high. Human induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell-derived tissue chips provide potentially a cost-effective preclinical drug testing platform, including potential avenues for personalized medicine. We have developed a three-dimensional microfluidic device that simultaneously cultures tumor cell spheroids with iPS-derived cardiomyocytes (iPS-CMs) and iPS-derived endothelial cells (iPS-EC). The iPS-derived cells include a GCaMP6 fluorescence reporter to allow real-time imaging to monitor intracellular calcium transients. The multiple-chambered tissue chip features electrodes for pacing of the cardiac tissue to assess cardiomyocyte function such as the maximum capture rate and conduction velocity. We measured the inhibition concentration (IC50) of the anticancer drugs, Doxorubicin (0.1 μM) and Oxaliplatin (4.2 μM), on the tissue chip loaded with colon cancer cells (SW620). We simultaneously evaluated the cardiotoxicity of these anticancer drugs by assessing the drug effect on the spontaneous beat frequency and conduction velocity of iPS-derived cardiac tissue. Consistent with in vivo observations, Doxorubicin reduced the spontaneous beating rate and maximum capture rate at or near the IC50 (0.04 and 0.22 μM, respectively), whereas the toxicity of Oxaliplatin was only observed at concentrations beyond the IC50 (33 and 9.9 μM, respectively). Our platform demonstrates the feasibility to simultaneously assess cardiac toxicity and antitumor effects of drugs and could be used to enhance personalized drug testing safety and efficacy. Impact statement Drug development using murine models for preclinical testing is no longer adequate nor acceptable both financially for the pharmaceutical industry as well as for generalized or personalized assessment of safety and efficacy. Innovative solutions using human cells and tissues provide exciting new opportunities. In this study, we report on the creation of a 3D microfluidic device that simultaneously cultures human tumor cell spheroids with cardiomyocytes and endothelial cells derived from the same induced pluripotent stem cell line. The platform provides the opportunity to assess efficacy of anticancer agents while simultaneously screening for potential cardiovascular toxicity in a format conducive for personalized medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuo-Chan Weng
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Yosuke K Kurokawa
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Brianna S Hajek
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Jack A Paladin
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Venktesh S Shirure
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Davis, Davis, California
| | - Steven C George
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Davis, Davis, California
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19
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Trujillo-de Santiago G, Flores-Garza BG, Tavares-Negrete JA, Lara-Mayorga IM, González-Gamboa I, Zhang YS, Rojas-Martínez A, Ortiz-López R, Álvarez MM. The Tumor-on-Chip: Recent Advances in the Development of Microfluidic Systems to Recapitulate the Physiology of Solid Tumors. MATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2019; 12:E2945. [PMID: 31514390 PMCID: PMC6766252 DOI: 10.3390/ma12182945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2019] [Revised: 09/03/2019] [Accepted: 09/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
The ideal in vitro recreation of the micro-tumor niche-although much needed for a better understanding of cancer etiology and development of better anticancer therapies-is highly challenging. Tumors are complex three-dimensional (3D) tissues that establish a dynamic cross-talk with the surrounding tissues through complex chemical signaling. An extensive body of experimental evidence has established that 3D culture systems more closely recapitulate the architecture and the physiology of human solid tumors when compared with traditional 2D systems. Moreover, conventional 3D culture systems fail to recreate the dynamics of the tumor niche. Tumor-on-chip systems, which are microfluidic devices that aim to recreate relevant features of the tumor physiology, have recently emerged as powerful tools in cancer research. In tumor-on-chip systems, the use of microfluidics adds another dimension of physiological mimicry by allowing a continuous feed of nutrients (and pharmaceutical compounds). Here, we discuss recently published literature related to the culture of solid tumor-like tissues in microfluidic systems (tumor-on-chip devices). Our aim is to provide the readers with an overview of the state of the art on this particular theme and to illustrate the toolbox available today for engineering tumor-like structures (and their environments) in microfluidic devices. The suitability of tumor-on-chip devices is increasing in many areas of cancer research, including the study of the physiology of solid tumors, the screening of novel anticancer pharmaceutical compounds before resourcing to animal models, and the development of personalized treatments. In the years to come, additive manufacturing (3D bioprinting and 3D printing), computational fluid dynamics, and medium- to high-throughput omics will become powerful enablers of a new wave of more sophisticated and effective tumor-on-chip devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grissel Trujillo-de Santiago
- Centro de Biotecnología-FEMSA, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Monterrey, Nuevo León CP 64849, Mexico.
- Departamento de Ingeniería Mecátrónica y Eléctrica, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Monterrey, Nuevo León CP 64849, Mexico.
| | | | | | - Itzel Montserrat Lara-Mayorga
- Centro de Biotecnología-FEMSA, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Monterrey, Nuevo León CP 64849, Mexico
- Departamento de Ingeniería Mecátrónica y Eléctrica, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Monterrey, Nuevo León CP 64849, Mexico
| | - Ivonne González-Gamboa
- Centro de Biotecnología-FEMSA, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Monterrey, Nuevo León CP 64849, Mexico
| | - Yu Shrike Zhang
- Division of Engineering in Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Augusto Rojas-Martínez
- Centro de Investigación y Transferencia en Salud, Hospital San José, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Monterrey, Nuevo León CP 64849, Mexico
| | - Rocío Ortiz-López
- Centro de Investigación y Transferencia en Salud, Hospital San José, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Monterrey, Nuevo León CP 64849, Mexico
| | - Mario Moisés Álvarez
- Centro de Biotecnología-FEMSA, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Monterrey, Nuevo León CP 64849, Mexico.
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20
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Ribeiro AJS, Yang X, Patel V, Madabushi R, Strauss DG. Liver Microphysiological Systems for Predicting and Evaluating Drug Effects. Clin Pharmacol Ther 2019; 106:139-147. [PMID: 30993668 PMCID: PMC6771674 DOI: 10.1002/cpt.1458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2019] [Accepted: 03/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Liver plays a major role in drug metabolism and is one of the main sites of drug adverse effects. Microphysiological systems (MPS), also known as organs‐on‐a‐chip, are a class of microfluidic platforms that recreate properties of tissue microenvironments. Among different properties, the liver microenvironment is three‐dimensional, fluid flows around its cells, and different cell types regulate its function. Liver MPS aim to recreate these properties and enable drug testing and measurement of functional endpoints. Tests with these systems have demonstrated their potential for predicting clinical drug effects. Properties of liver MPS that improve the physiology of cell culture are reviewed, specifically focusing on the importance of recreating a physiological microenvironment to evaluate and model drug effects. Advances in modeling hepatic function by leveraging MPS are addressed, noting the need for standardization in the use, quality control, and interpretation of data from these systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandre J S Ribeiro
- Division of Applied Regulatory Science, Office of Translational Science, Office of Clinical Pharmacology, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, US Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Xinning Yang
- Office of Clinical Pharmacology, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, US Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Vikram Patel
- Division of Applied Regulatory Science, Office of Translational Science, Office of Clinical Pharmacology, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, US Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Rajnikanth Madabushi
- Office of Clinical Pharmacology, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, US Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - David G Strauss
- Division of Applied Regulatory Science, Office of Translational Science, Office of Clinical Pharmacology, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, US Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA.,Office of Clinical Pharmacology, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, US Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
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21
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Abstract
Understanding the cellular basis of human health and disease requires the spatial resolution of microscopy and the molecular-level details provided by spectroscopy. This review highlights imaging methods at the intersection of microscopy and spectroscopy with applications in cell biology. Imaging methods are divided into three broad categories: fluorescence microscopy, label-free approaches, and imaging tools that can be applied to multiple imaging modalities. Just as these imaging methods allow researchers to address new biological questions, progress in biological sciences will drive the development of new imaging methods. We highlight four topics in cell biology that illustrate the need for new imaging tools: nanoparticle-cell interactions, intracellular redox chemistry, neuroscience, and the increasing use of spheroids and organoids. Overall, our goal is to provide a brief overview of individual imaging methods and highlight recent advances in the use of microscopy for cell biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua D Morris
- School of Science and Technology, Georgia Gwinnett College, Lawrenceville, Georgia 30043, USA
| | - Christine K Payne
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, USA;
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22
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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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23
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Trosko JE. A Historical Perspective for the Development of Mechanistic-Based 3D Models of Toxicology Using Human Adult Stem Cells. Toxicol Sci 2018; 165:6-9. [DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfy168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- James E Trosko
- Department of Pediatrics and Human Development, Institute of Integrated Toxicology, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824
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24
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Prabhu L, Wei H, Chen L, Demir Ö, Sandusky G, Sun E, Wang J, Mo J, Zeng L, Fishel M, Safa A, Amaro R, Korc M, Zhang ZY, Lu T. Adapting AlphaLISA high throughput screen to discover a novel small-molecule inhibitor targeting protein arginine methyltransferase 5 in pancreatic and colorectal cancers. Oncotarget 2018; 8:39963-39977. [PMID: 28591716 PMCID: PMC5522311 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.18102] [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: 12/02/2016] [Accepted: 04/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and colorectal cancer (CRC) are notoriously challenging for treatment. Hyperactive nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) is a common culprit in both cancers. Previously, we discovered that protein arginine methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5) methylated and activated NF-κB. Here, we show that PRMT5 is highly expressed in PDAC and CRC. Overexpression of PRMT5 promoted cancer progression, while shRNA knockdown showed an opposite effect. Using an innovative AlphaLISA high throughput screen, we discovered a lead compound, PR5-LL-CM01, which exhibited robust tumor inhibition effects in both cancers. An in silico structure prediction suggested that PR5-LL-CM01 inhibits PRMT5 by binding with its active pocket. Importantly, PR5-LL-CM01 showed higher anti-tumor efficacy than the commercial PRMT5 inhibitor, EPZ015666, in both PDAC and CRC. This study clearly highlights the significant potential of PRMT5 as a therapeutic target in PDAC and CRC, and establishes PR5-LL-CM01 as a promising basis for new drug development in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lakshmi Prabhu
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Han Wei
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Lan Chen
- Chemical Genomics Core Facility, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.,Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Özlem Demir
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - George Sandusky
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Emily Sun
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - John Wang
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Jessica Mo
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Lifan Zeng
- Chemical Genomics Core Facility, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Melissa Fishel
- Department of Pediatrics, Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Ahmad Safa
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Rommie Amaro
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Murray Korc
- Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Zhong-Yin Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.,Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Tao Lu
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.,Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
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25
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Kurokawa YK, Yin RT, Shang MR, Shirure VS, Moya ML, George SC. Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Endothelial Cells for Three-Dimensional Microphysiological Systems. Tissue Eng Part C Methods 2018. [PMID: 28622076 DOI: 10.1089/ten.tec.2017.0133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Microphysiological systems (MPS), or "organ-on-a-chip" platforms, aim to recapitulate in vivo physiology using small-scale in vitro tissue models of human physiology. While significant efforts have been made to create vascularized tissues, most reports utilize primary endothelial cells that hinder reproducibility. In this study, we report the use of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived endothelial cells (iPS-ECs) in developing three-dimensional (3D) microvascular networks. We established a CDH5-mCherry reporter iPS cell line, which expresses the vascular endothelial (VE)-cadherin fused to mCherry. The iPS-ECs demonstrate physiological functions characteristic of primary endothelial cells in a series of in vitro assays, including permeability, response to shear stress, and the expression of endothelial markers (CD31, von Willibrand factor, and endothelial nitric oxide synthase). The iPS-ECs form stable, perfusable microvessels over the course of 14 days when cultured within 3D microfluidic devices. We also demonstrate that inhibition of TGF-β signaling improves vascular network formation by the iPS-ECs. We conclude that iPS-ECs can be a source of endothelial cells in MPS providing opportunities for human disease modeling and improving the reproducibility of 3D vascular networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yosuke K Kurokawa
- 1 Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis , St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Rose T Yin
- 1 Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis , St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Michael R Shang
- 1 Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis , St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Venktesh S Shirure
- 1 Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis , St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Monica L Moya
- 2 Center for Micro and Nano Technology, Materials Engineering Division, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California
| | - Steven C George
- 1 Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis , St. Louis, Missouri
- 3 Department of Energy, Environment, and Chemical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis , St. Louis, Missouri
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26
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Watson DE, Hunziker R, Wikswo JP. Fitting tissue chips and microphysiological systems into the grand scheme of medicine, biology, pharmacology, and toxicology. Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2017; 242:1559-1572. [PMID: 29065799 DOI: 10.1177/1535370217732765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Microphysiological systems (MPS), which include engineered organoids (EOs), single organ/tissue chips (TCs), and multiple organs interconnected to create miniature in vitro models of human physiological systems, are rapidly becoming effective tools for drug development and the mechanistic understanding of tissue physiology and pathophysiology. The second MPS thematic issue of Experimental Biology and Medicine comprises 15 articles by scientists and engineers from the National Institutes of Health, the IQ Consortium, the Food and Drug Administration, and Environmental Protection Agency, an MPS company, and academia. Topics include the progress, challenges, and future of organs-on-chips, dissemination of TCs into Pharma, children's health protection, liver zonation, liver chips and their coupling to interconnected systems, gastrointestinal MPS, maturation of immature cardiomyocytes in a heart-on-a-chip, coculture of multiple cell types in a human skin construct, use of synthetic hydrogels to create EOs that form neural tissue models, the blood-brain barrier-on-a-chip, MPS models of coupled female reproductive organs, coupling MPS devices to create a body-on-a-chip, and the use of a microformulator to recapitulate endocrine circadian rhythms. While MPS hardware has been relatively stable since the last MPS thematic issue, there have been significant advances in cell sourcing, with increased reliance on human-induced pluripotent stem cells, and in characterization of the genetic and functional cell state in MPS bioreactors. There is growing appreciation of the need to minimize perfusate-to-cell-volume ratios and respect physiological scaling of coupled TCs. Questions asked by drug developers are followed by an analysis of the potential value, costs, and needs of Pharma. Of highest value and lowest switching costs may be the development of MPS disease models to aid in the discovery of disease mechanisms; novel compounds including probes, leads, and clinical candidates; and mechanism of action of drug candidates. Impact statement Microphysiological systems (MPS), which include engineered organoids and both individual and coupled organs-on-chips and tissue chips, are a rapidly growing topic of research that addresses the known limitations of conventional cellular monoculture on flat plastic - a well-perfected set of techniques that produces reliable, statistically significant results that may not adequately represent human biology and disease. As reviewed in this article and the others in this thematic issue, MPS research has made notable progress in the past three years in both cell sourcing and characterization. As the field matures, currently identified challenges are being addressed, and new ones are being recognized. Building upon investments by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, National Institutes of Health, Food and Drug Administration, Defense Threat Reduction Agency, and Environmental Protection Agency of more than $200 million since 2012 and sizable corporate spending, academic and commercial players in the MPS community are demonstrating their ability to meet the translational challenges required to apply MPS technologies to accelerate drug development and advance toxicology.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rosemarie Hunziker
- 2 National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - John P Wikswo
- 3 Departments of Biomedical Engineering, Molecular Physiology & Biophysics, and Physics & Astronomy, Vanderbilt Institute for Integrative Biosystems Research and Education, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235-1807, USA
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27
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Xiao S, Coppeta JR, Rogers HB, Isenberg BC, Zhu J, Olalekan SA, McKinnon KE, Dokic D, Rashedi AS, Haisenleder DJ, Malpani SS, Arnold-Murray CA, Chen K, Jiang M, Bai L, Nguyen CT, Zhang J, Laronda MM, Hope TJ, Maniar KP, Pavone ME, Avram MJ, Sefton EC, Getsios S, Burdette JE, Kim JJ, Borenstein JT, Woodruff TK. A microfluidic culture model of the human reproductive tract and 28-day menstrual cycle. Nat Commun 2017; 8:14584. [PMID: 28350383 PMCID: PMC5379057 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms14584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 265] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2016] [Accepted: 01/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The endocrine system dynamically controls tissue differentiation and homeostasis, but has not been studied using dynamic tissue culture paradigms. Here we show that a microfluidic system supports murine ovarian follicles to produce the human 28-day menstrual cycle hormone profile, which controls human female reproductive tract and peripheral tissue dynamics in single, dual and multiple unit microfluidic platforms (Solo-MFP, Duet-MFP and Quintet-MPF, respectively). These systems simulate the in vivo female reproductive tract and the endocrine loops between organ modules for the ovary, fallopian tube, uterus, cervix and liver, with a sustained circulating flow between all tissues. The reproductive tract tissues and peripheral organs integrated into a microfluidic platform, termed EVATAR, represents a powerful new in vitro tool that allows organ–organ integration of hormonal signalling as a phenocopy of menstrual cycle and pregnancy-like endocrine loops and has great potential to be used in drug discovery and toxicology studies. The female reproductive tract constitutes the ovary, fallopian tubes, uterus, and cervix, but it is challenging to engineer this system in vitro. Here, the authors develop a microfluidic device (EVATAR) with reproductive tract and peripheral tissues to replicate hormone release of a 28-day menstrual cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuo Xiao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA
| | - Jonathan R Coppeta
- The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
| | - Hunter B Rogers
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA
| | - Brett C Isenberg
- The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
| | - Jie Zhu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA
| | - Susan A Olalekan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA
| | - Kelly E McKinnon
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA
| | - Danijela Dokic
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA
| | - Alexandra S Rashedi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA
| | - Daniel J Haisenleder
- Ligand Assay and Analysis Core, Center for Research in Reproduction, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22908, USA
| | - Saurabh S Malpani
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA
| | - Chanel A Arnold-Murray
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA
| | - Kuanwei Chen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA
| | - Mingyang Jiang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA
| | - Lu Bai
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA
| | - Catherine T Nguyen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA
| | - Jiyang Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA
| | - Monica M Laronda
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA
| | - Thomas J Hope
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA
| | - Kruti P Maniar
- Department of Pathology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA
| | - Mary Ellen Pavone
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA
| | - Michael J Avram
- Department of Anesthesiology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA
| | - Elizabeth C Sefton
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA
| | - Spiro Getsios
- Department of Dermatology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA
| | - Joanna E Burdette
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60607, USA
| | - J Julie Kim
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA
| | | | - Teresa K Woodruff
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA
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28
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Abstract
INTRODUCTION The technologies used to design, create and use microphysiological systems (MPS, "tissue chips" or "organs-on-chips") have progressed rapidly in the last 5 years, and validation studies of the functional relevance of these platforms to human physiology, and response to drugs for individual model organ systems, are well underway. These studies are paving the way for integrated multi-organ systems that can model diseases and predict drug efficacy and toxicology of multiple organs in real-time, improving the potential for diagnostics and development of novel treatments of rare diseases in the future. AREAS COVERED This review will briefly summarize the current state of tissue chip research and highlight model systems where these microfabricated (or bioengineered) devices are already being used to screen therapeutics, model disease states, and provide potential treatments in addition to helping elucidate the basic molecular and cellular phenotypes of rare diseases. EXPERT OPINION Microphysiological systems hold great promise and potential for modeling rare disorders, as well as for their potential use to enhance the predictive power of new drug therapeutics, plus potentially increase the statistical power of clinical trials while removing the inherent risks of these trials in rare disease populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucie A Low
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, 6701 Democracy Boulevard, Bethesda, MD, 20892.,National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, National Institutes of Health, 35 Convent Drive, Bethesda, MD, 20892
| | - Danilo A Tagle
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, 6701 Democracy Boulevard, Bethesda, MD, 20892
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29
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3D microtumors in vitro supported by perfused vascular networks. Sci Rep 2016; 6:31589. [PMID: 27549930 PMCID: PMC4994029 DOI: 10.1038/srep31589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 257] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2016] [Accepted: 07/19/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
There is a growing interest in developing microphysiological systems that can be used to model both normal and pathological human organs in vitro. This "organs-on-chips" approach aims to capture key structural and physiological characteristics of the target tissue. Here we describe in vitro vascularized microtumors (VMTs). This "tumor-on-a-chip" platform incorporates human tumor and stromal cells that grow in a 3D extracellular matrix and that depend for survival on nutrient delivery through living, perfused microvessels. Both colorectal and breast cancer cells grow vigorously in the platform and respond to standard-of-care therapies, showing reduced growth and/or regression. Vascular-targeting agents with different mechanisms of action can also be distinguished, and we find that drugs targeting only VEGFRs (Apatinib and Vandetanib) are not effective, whereas drugs that target VEGFRs, PDGFR and Tie2 (Linifanib and Cabozantinib) do regress the vasculature. Tumors in the VMT show strong metabolic heterogeneity when imaged using NADH Fluorescent Lifetime Imaging Microscopy and, compared to their surrounding stroma, many show a higher free/bound NADH ratio consistent with their known preference for aerobic glycolysis. The VMT platform provides a unique model for studying vascularized solid tumors in vitro.
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30
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Datta R, Heylman C, George SC, Gratton E. Label-free imaging of metabolism and oxidative stress in human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes. BIOMEDICAL OPTICS EXPRESS 2016; 7:1690-701. [PMID: 27231614 PMCID: PMC4871074 DOI: 10.1364/boe.7.001690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2016] [Revised: 03/29/2016] [Accepted: 03/29/2016] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
In this work we demonstrate a label-free optical imaging technique to assess metabolic status and oxidative stress in human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes by two-photon fluorescence lifetime imaging of endogenous fluorophores. Our results show the sensitivity of this method to detect shifts in metabolism and oxidative stress in the cardiomyocytes upon pathological stimuli of hypoxia and cardiotoxic drugs. This non-invasive imaging technique could prove beneficial for drug development and screening, especially for in vitro cardiac models created from stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes and to study the pathogenesis of cardiac diseases and therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rupsa Datta
- Laboratory for Fluorescence Dynamic, University of California, Biomedical Engineering, Irvine, California 92617, USA
| | - Christopher Heylman
- Laboratory for Fluorescence Dynamic, University of California, Biomedical Engineering, Irvine, California 92617, USA
| | - Steven C. George
- Washington University in St. Louis, Biomedical Engineering, St. Louis, Missouri, 63130, USA
| | - Enrico Gratton
- Laboratory for Fluorescence Dynamic, University of California, Biomedical Engineering, Irvine, California 92617, USA
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31
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Aung A, Bhullar IS, Theprungsirikul J, Davey SK, Lim HL, Chiu YJ, Ma X, Dewan S, Lo YH, McCulloch A, Varghese S. 3D cardiac μtissues within a microfluidic device with real-time contractile stress readout. LAB ON A CHIP 2016; 16:153-62. [PMID: 26588203 PMCID: PMC4681661 DOI: 10.1039/c5lc00820d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
We present the development of three-dimensional (3D) cardiac microtissues within a microfluidic device with the ability to quantify real-time contractile stress measurements in situ. Using a 3D patterning technology that allows for the precise spatial distribution of cells within the device, we created an array of 3D cardiac microtissues from neonatal mouse cardiomyocytes. We integrated the 3D micropatterning technology with microfluidics to achieve perfused cell-laden structures. The cells were encapsulated within a degradable gelatin methacrylate hydrogel, which was sandwiched between two polyacrylamide hydrogels. The polyacrylamide hydrogels were used as "stress sensors" to acquire the contractile stresses generated by the beating cardiac cells. The cardiac-specific response of the engineered 3D system was examined by exposing it to epinephrine, an adrenergic neurotransmitter known to increase the magnitude and frequency of cardiac contractions. In response to exogenous epinephrine the engineered cardiac tissues exhibited an increased beating frequency and stress magnitude. Such cost-effective and easy-to-adapt 3D cardiac systems with real-time functional readout could be an attractive technological platform for drug discovery and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aereas Aung
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California-San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
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32
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Jiang K, Dong C, Xu Y, Wang L. Microfluidic-based biomimetic models for life science research. RSC Adv 2016. [DOI: 10.1039/c6ra05691a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The advances in microfluidic technology have recently generated various microfluidic-based biomimetic models as novel 3D models for life science research, offering some great advantages over conventional models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keqiu Jiang
- Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery
- Department of General Surgery
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University
- Dalian
- China
| | - Chengyong Dong
- Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery
- Department of General Surgery
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University
- Dalian
- China
| | - Yakun Xu
- Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery
- Department of General Surgery
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University
- Dalian
- China
| | - Liming Wang
- Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery
- Department of General Surgery
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University
- Dalian
- China
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33
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Supervised Machine Learning for Classification of the Electrophysiological Effects of Chronotropic Drugs on Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Cardiomyocytes. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0144572. [PMID: 26695765 PMCID: PMC4690607 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0144572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2015] [Accepted: 11/22/2015] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Supervised machine learning can be used to predict which drugs human cardiomyocytes have been exposed to. Using electrophysiological data collected from human cardiomyocytes with known exposure to different drugs, a supervised machine learning algorithm can be trained to recognize and classify cells that have been exposed to an unknown drug. Furthermore, the learning algorithm provides information on the relative contribution of each data parameter to the overall classification. Probabilities and confidence in the accuracy of each classification may also be determined by the algorithm. In this study, the electrophysiological effects of β-adrenergic drugs, propranolol and isoproterenol, on cardiomyocytes derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPS-CM) were assessed. The electrophysiological data were collected using high temporal resolution 2-photon microscopy of voltage sensitive dyes as a reporter of membrane voltage. The results demonstrate the ability of our algorithm to accurately assess, classify, and predict hiPS-CM membrane depolarization following exposure to chronotropic drugs.
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34
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Li G, Liu X, Du Q, Gao M, An J. Three dimensional de novo micro bone marrow and its versatile application in drug screening and regenerative medicine. Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2015; 240:1029-38. [PMID: 26283705 DOI: 10.1177/1535370215594583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The finding that bone marrow hosts several types of multipotent stem cell has prompted extensive research aimed at regenerating organs and building models to elucidate the mechanisms of diseases. Conventional research depends on the use of two-dimensional (2D) bone marrow systems, which imposes several obstacles. The development of 3D bone marrow systems with appropriate molecules and materials however, is now showing promising results. In this review, we discuss the advantages of 3D bone marrow systems over 2D systems and then point out various factors that can enhance the 3D systems. The intensive research on 3D bone marrow systems has revealed multiple important clinical applications including disease modeling, drug screening, regenerative medicine, etc. We also discuss some possible future directions in the 3D bone marrow research field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guanqun Li
- Department of Pharmacology, State University of New York, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 13202, USA
| | - Xujun Liu
- Department of Pharmacology, State University of New York, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 13202, USA
| | - Qian Du
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, State University of New York, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 13202, USA
| | - Mei Gao
- Department of Pharmacology, State University of New York, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 13202, USA SUNY Upstate Cancer Research Institute, State University of New York, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 13202, USA
| | - Jing An
- Department of Pharmacology, State University of New York, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 13202, USA SUNY Upstate Cancer Research Institute, State University of New York, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 13202, USA
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35
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Kumar A, Starly B. Large scale industrialized cell expansion: producing the critical raw material for biofabrication processes. Biofabrication 2015; 7:044103. [DOI: 10.1088/1758-5090/7/4/044103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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36
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Tourlomousis F, Chang RC. Numerical investigation of dynamic microorgan devices as drug screening platforms. Part I: Macroscale modeling approach & validation. Biotechnol Bioeng 2015; 113:612-22. [DOI: 10.1002/bit.25822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2015] [Revised: 08/17/2015] [Accepted: 08/27/2015] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Filippos Tourlomousis
- Department of Mechanical Engineering; Stevens Institute of Technology; Hoboken New Jersey
| | - Robert C. Chang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering; Stevens Institute of Technology; Hoboken New Jersey
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37
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Abstract
The new cover of Experimental Biology and Medicine features the hermeneutic circle of biology, a concept we have adapted from the hermeneutic principle that one understands the whole only in terms of each part and the parts only in terms of the whole. Our hermeneutic circle summarizes the course of experimental biology through 2500 years of the achievements of reductionist research (understanding the parts), which culminates in our ability to rapidly sequence the genome. Rather than returning along the same path in a constructionist approach that simply builds upon this knowledge, but in reverse, an alternative is to close the circle with synthetic constructions that seek to integrate the full complexity of biological and physiological systems (understanding the whole), of which organs-on-chips are one example. This closing of the circle cannot be a comprehensively accurate representation of biology, but it can be a synthetic one that effectively defines particular biological subsystems. The illustration of the hermeneutic circle of biology is also intended to suggest both the multiple cycles that may be required to reach such a synthesis and the expansion of the circle in an outward spiral as knowledge increases. Our commentary explains the symbolism of the new cover in a philosophical and scientific discussion.
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Affiliation(s)
- John P Wikswo
- Vanderbilt Institute for Integrative Biosystems Research and Education, Departments of Biomedical Engineering, Molecular Physiology & Biophysics, and Physics & Astronomy, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
| | - Andrew P Porter
- Center for Theology and the Natural Sciences, Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley, CA 94709-1212, USA
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Wikswo JP. The relevance and potential roles of microphysiological systems in biology and medicine. Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2014; 239:1061-72. [PMID: 25187571 PMCID: PMC4330974 DOI: 10.1177/1535370214542068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 159] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Microphysiological systems (MPS), consisting of interacting organs-on-chips or tissue-engineered, 3D organ constructs that use human cells, present an opportunity to bring new tools to biology, medicine, pharmacology, physiology, and toxicology. This issue of Experimental Biology and Medicine describes the ongoing development of MPS that can serve as in-vitro models for bone and cartilage, brain, gastrointestinal tract, lung, liver, microvasculature, reproductive tract, skeletal muscle, and skin. Related topics addressed here are the interconnection of organs-on-chips to support physiologically based pharmacokinetics and drug discovery and screening, and the microscale technologies that regulate stem cell differentiation. The initial motivation for creating MPS was to increase the speed, efficiency, and safety of pharmaceutical development and testing, paying particular regard to the fact that neither monolayer monocultures of immortal or primary cell lines nor animal studies can adequately recapitulate the dynamics of drug-organ, drug-drug, and drug-organ-organ interactions in humans. Other applications include studies of the effect of environmental toxins on humans, identification, characterization, and neutralization of chemical and biological weapons, controlled studies of the microbiome and infectious disease that cannot be conducted in humans, controlled differentiation of induced pluripotent stem cells into specific adult cellular phenotypes, and studies of the dynamics of metabolism and signaling within and between human organs. The technical challenges are being addressed by many investigators, and in the process, it seems highly likely that significant progress will be made toward providing more physiologically realistic alternatives to monolayer monocultures or whole animal studies. The effectiveness of this effort will be determined in part by how easy the constructs are to use, how well they function, how accurately they recapitulate and report human pharmacology and toxicology, whether they can be generated in large numbers to enable parallel studies, and if their use can be standardized consistent with the practices of regulatory science.
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Affiliation(s)
- John P Wikswo
- Departments of Biomedical Engineering, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, and Physics and Astronomy, Vanderbilt University, The Vanderbilt Institute for Integrative Biosystems Research and Education, VU Station B 351807, Nashville, TN 37235-1807, USA
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