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Ryoo H, Kimmel H, Rondo E, Underhill GH. Advances in high throughput cell culture technologies for therapeutic screening and biological discovery applications. Bioeng Transl Med 2024; 9:e10627. [PMID: 38818120 PMCID: PMC11135158 DOI: 10.1002/btm2.10627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Cellular phenotypes and functional responses are modulated by the signals present in their microenvironment, including extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, tissue mechanical properties, soluble signals and nutrients, and cell-cell interactions. To better recapitulate and analyze these complex signals within the framework of more physiologically relevant culture models, high throughput culture platforms can be transformative. High throughput methodologies enable scientists to extract increasingly robust and broad datasets from individual experiments, screen large numbers of conditions for potential hits, better qualify and predict responses for preclinical applications, and reduce reliance on animal studies. High throughput cell culture systems require uniformity, assay miniaturization, specific target identification, and process simplification. In this review, we detail the various techniques that researchers have used to face these challenges and explore cellular responses in a high throughput manner. We highlight several common approaches including two-dimensional multiwell microplates, microarrays, and microfluidic cell culture systems as well as unencapsulated and encapsulated three-dimensional high throughput cell culture systems, featuring multiwell microplates, micromolds, microwells, microarrays, granular hydrogels, and cell-encapsulated microgels. We also discuss current applications of these high throughput technologies, namely stem cell sourcing, drug discovery and predictive toxicology, and personalized medicine, along with emerging opportunities and future impact areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyeon Ryoo
- Bioengineering DepartmentUniversity of Illinois Urbana‐ChampaignUrbanaIllinoisUSA
| | - Hannah Kimmel
- Bioengineering DepartmentUniversity of Illinois Urbana‐ChampaignUrbanaIllinoisUSA
| | - Evi Rondo
- Bioengineering DepartmentUniversity of Illinois Urbana‐ChampaignUrbanaIllinoisUSA
| | - Gregory H. Underhill
- Bioengineering DepartmentUniversity of Illinois Urbana‐ChampaignUrbanaIllinoisUSA
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Xu R, Chen R, Tu C, Gong X, Liu Z, Mei L, Ren X, Li Z. 3D Models of Sarcomas: The Next-generation Tool for Personalized Medicine. PHENOMICS (CHAM, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 4:171-186. [PMID: 38884054 PMCID: PMC11169319 DOI: 10.1007/s43657-023-00111-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Revised: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2024]
Abstract
Sarcoma is a complex and heterogeneous cancer that has been difficult to study in vitro. While two-dimensional (2D) cell cultures and mouse models have been the dominant research tools, three-dimensional (3D) culture systems such as organoids have emerged as promising alternatives. In this review, we discuss recent developments in sarcoma organoid culture, with a focus on their potential as tools for drug screening and biobanking. We also highlight the ways in which sarcoma organoids have been used to investigate the mechanisms of gene regulation, drug resistance, metastasis, and immune interactions. Sarcoma organoids have shown to retain characteristics of in vivo biology within an in vitro system, making them a more representative model for sarcoma research. Our review suggests that sarcoma organoids offer a potential path forward for translational research in this field and may provide a platform for developing personalized therapies for sarcoma patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruiling Xu
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, No. 139 Renmin Road, Changsha, 410011 Hunan China
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Tumor Models and Individualized Medicine, No. 139 Renmin Road, Changsha, 410011 Hunan China
| | - Ruiqi Chen
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, No. 139 Renmin Road, Changsha, 410011 Hunan China
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Tumor Models and Individualized Medicine, No. 139 Renmin Road, Changsha, 410011 Hunan China
| | - Chao Tu
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, No. 139 Renmin Road, Changsha, 410011 Hunan China
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Tumor Models and Individualized Medicine, No. 139 Renmin Road, Changsha, 410011 Hunan China
| | - Xiaofeng Gong
- College of Life Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433 China
| | - Zhongyue Liu
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, No. 139 Renmin Road, Changsha, 410011 Hunan China
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Tumor Models and Individualized Medicine, No. 139 Renmin Road, Changsha, 410011 Hunan China
| | - Lin Mei
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, No. 139 Renmin Road, Changsha, 410011 Hunan China
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Tumor Models and Individualized Medicine, No. 139 Renmin Road, Changsha, 410011 Hunan China
| | - Xiaolei Ren
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, No. 139 Renmin Road, Changsha, 410011 Hunan China
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Tumor Models and Individualized Medicine, No. 139 Renmin Road, Changsha, 410011 Hunan China
| | - Zhihong Li
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, No. 139 Renmin Road, Changsha, 410011 Hunan China
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Tumor Models and Individualized Medicine, No. 139 Renmin Road, Changsha, 410011 Hunan China
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Urzì O, Gasparro R, Costanzo E, De Luca A, Giavaresi G, Fontana S, Alessandro R. Three-Dimensional Cell Cultures: The Bridge between In Vitro and In Vivo Models. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:12046. [PMID: 37569426 PMCID: PMC10419178 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241512046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Revised: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Although historically, the traditional bidimensional in vitro cell system has been widely used in research, providing much fundamental information regarding cellular functions and signaling pathways as well as nuclear activities, the simplicity of this system does not fully reflect the heterogeneity and complexity of the in vivo systems. From this arises the need to use animals for experimental research and in vivo testing. Nevertheless, animal use in experimentation presents various aspects of complexity, such as ethical issues, which led Russell and Burch in 1959 to formulate the 3R (Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement) principle, underlying the urgent need to introduce non-animal-based methods in research. Considering this, three-dimensional (3D) models emerged in the scientific community as a bridge between in vitro and in vivo models, allowing for the achievement of cell differentiation and complexity while avoiding the use of animals in experimental research. The purpose of this review is to provide a general overview of the most common methods to establish 3D cell culture and to discuss their promising applications. Three-dimensional cell cultures have been employed as models to study both organ physiology and diseases; moreover, they represent a valuable tool for studying many aspects of cancer. Finally, the possibility of using 3D models for drug screening and regenerative medicine paves the way for the development of new therapeutic opportunities for many diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ornella Urzì
- Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics (Bi.N.D), Section of Biology and Genetics, University of Palermo, 90133 Palermo, Italy; (O.U.); (R.G.); (E.C.); (R.A.)
| | - Roberta Gasparro
- Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics (Bi.N.D), Section of Biology and Genetics, University of Palermo, 90133 Palermo, Italy; (O.U.); (R.G.); (E.C.); (R.A.)
| | - Elisa Costanzo
- Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics (Bi.N.D), Section of Biology and Genetics, University of Palermo, 90133 Palermo, Italy; (O.U.); (R.G.); (E.C.); (R.A.)
| | - Angela De Luca
- IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, SC Scienze e Tecnologie Chirurgiche, 40136 Bologna, Italy; (A.D.L.); (G.G.)
| | - Gianluca Giavaresi
- IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, SC Scienze e Tecnologie Chirurgiche, 40136 Bologna, Italy; (A.D.L.); (G.G.)
| | - Simona Fontana
- Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics (Bi.N.D), Section of Biology and Genetics, University of Palermo, 90133 Palermo, Italy; (O.U.); (R.G.); (E.C.); (R.A.)
| | - Riccardo Alessandro
- Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics (Bi.N.D), Section of Biology and Genetics, University of Palermo, 90133 Palermo, Italy; (O.U.); (R.G.); (E.C.); (R.A.)
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Mertz DR, Parigoris E, Sentosa J, Lee JH, Lee S, Kleer CG, Luker G, Takayama S. Triple-negative breast cancer cells invade adipocyte/preadipocyte-encapsulating geometrically inverted mammary organoids. Integr Biol (Camb) 2023; 15:zyad004. [PMID: 37015816 PMCID: PMC10155781 DOI: 10.1093/intbio/zyad004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 02/25/2023] [Indexed: 04/06/2023]
Abstract
This paper describes the manufacture of geometrically inverted mammary organoids encapsulating primary mammary preadipocytes and adipocytes. Material manipulation in an array of 192 hanging drops induces cells to self-assemble into inside-out organoids where an adipose tissue core is enveloped by a cell-produced basement membrane, indicated by laminin V staining and then a continuous layer of mammary epithelial cells. This inverted tissue structure enables investigation of multiple mammary cancer subtypes, with a significantly higher extent of invasion by triple-negative MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells compared to MCF7 cells. By seeding cancer cells into co-culture around pre-formed organoids with encapsulated preadipocytes/adipocytes, invasion through the epithelium, then into the adipose core is observable through acquisition of confocal image stacks of whole mount specimens. Furthermore, in regions of the connective tissue core where invasion occurs, there is an accumulation of collagen in the microenvironment. Suggesting that this collagen may be conducive to increased invasiveness, the anti-fibrotic drug pirfenidone shows efficacy in this model by slowing invasion. Comparison of adipose tissue derived from three different donors shows method consistency as well as the potential to evaluate donor cell-based biological variability. Insight box Geometrically inverted mammary organoids encapsulating primary preadipocytes/adipocytes (P/As) are bioengineered using a minimal amount of Matrigel scaffolding. Use of this eversion-free method is key to production of adipose mammary organoids (AMOs) where not only the epithelial polarity but also the entire self-organizing arrangement, including adipose position, is inside-out. While an epithelial-only structure can analyze cancer cell invasion, P/As are required for invasion-associated collagen deposition and efficacy of pirfenidone to counteract collagen deposition and associated invasion. The methods described strike a balance between repeatability and preservation of biological variability: AMOs form consistently across multiple adipose cell donors while revealing cancer cell invasion differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- David R Mertz
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering , Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Eric Parigoris
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering , Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Jason Sentosa
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering , Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Ji-Hoon Lee
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering , Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Soojung Lee
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering , Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Celina G Kleer
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Gary Luker
- Center for Molecular Imaging, Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Shuichi Takayama
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering , Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
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Marimuthu M, Gervais T. Multiplexed Viability Assays for High-Throughput Screening of Spheroids of Multiple Sizes. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2644:435-447. [PMID: 37142939 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3052-5_28] [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: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
High-throughput (HT) drug screening is in high demand for successful drug discovery and personalized medicine. Spheroids act as a promising preclinical model for HT drug screening, which may decrease drug failures in clinical trials. Numerous spheroid-forming technological platforms are currently under development, which include synchronous, jumbo-sized, hanging drop, rotary, and nonadherent surface spheroid growth. Initial cell seeding concentration and time of culture play a vital role for spheroids to mimic the extracellular microenvironment of natural tissue, especially for HT preclinical evaluation. Hence microfluidic platforms become a potential technology to provide a confined space for the oxygen and nutrient gradients within the tissues while controlling the cell count and spheroid size in an HT manner. We describe here a microfluidic platform capable of generating spheroids of multiple sizes in a controlled manner with a predefined cell concentration for HT drug screening. Ovarian cancer spheroids grown on this microfluidic platform were evaluated for viability using a confocal microscope and flow cytometer. In addition, screening of the HT chemotherapeutic drug carboplatin was carried out on-chip to evaluate the impact of spheroid size on drug toxicity. This chapter summarizes a detailed protocol on microfluidic platform fabrication for spheroid growth, on-chip multi-sized spheroid analysis, and chemotherapeutic drug screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohana Marimuthu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Centre for Research, Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan University, Samayapuram, Trichy, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Thomas Gervais
- Department of Engineering Physics, Polytechnique Montréal, Chemin de Polytechnique, Montréal, QC, Canada.
- Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada.
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Abbas A, Zhang C, Asad M, Waqas A, Khatoon A, Hussain S, Mir SH. Recent Developments in Artificial Super-Wettable Surfaces Based on Bioinspired Polymeric Materials for Biomedical Applications. Polymers (Basel) 2022; 14:238. [PMID: 35054645 PMCID: PMC8781395 DOI: 10.3390/polym14020238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2021] [Revised: 12/29/2021] [Accepted: 01/02/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Inspired by nature, significant research efforts have been made to discover the diverse range of biomaterials for various biomedical applications such as drug development, disease diagnosis, biomedical testing, therapy, etc. Polymers as bioinspired materials with extreme wettable properties, such as superhydrophilic and superhydrophobic surfaces, have received considerable interest in the past due to their multiple applications in anti-fogging, anti-icing, self-cleaning, oil-water separation, biosensing, and effective transportation of water. Apart from the numerous technological applications for extreme wetting and self-cleaning products, recently, super-wettable surfaces based on polymeric materials have also emerged as excellent candidates in studying biological processes. In this review, we systematically illustrate the designing and processing of artificial, super-wettable surfaces by using different polymeric materials for a variety of biomedical applications including tissue engineering, drug/gene delivery, molecular recognition, and diagnosis. Special attention has been paid to applications concerning the identification, control, and analysis of exceedingly small molecular amounts and applications permitting high cell and biomaterial cell screening. Current outlook and future prospects are also provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ansar Abbas
- School of Chemistry, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China; (A.A.); (C.Z.)
| | - Chen Zhang
- School of Chemistry, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China; (A.A.); (C.Z.)
| | - Muhammad Asad
- Green Catalysis Center, College of Chemistry, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China;
| | - Ahsan Waqas
- Key Laboratory of Applied Surface and Colloid Chemistry (Ministry of Education), School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710119, China;
| | - Asma Khatoon
- College of Business Administration, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam 34212, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Sameer Hussain
- School of Chemistry, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China; (A.A.); (C.Z.)
| | - Sajjad Husain Mir
- School of Chemistry and Advanced Materials & BioEngineering Research (AMBER) Center, Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin, D02 PN40 Dublin, Ireland
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Bae Y, Joo C, Park KH, Kang SW, Huh KM, Choi JS. Preparation and characterization of 3D human glioblastoma spheroids using an N-octanoyl glycol chitosan hydrogel. Int J Biol Macromol 2021; 185:87-97. [PMID: 34144066 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2021.06.083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2021] [Revised: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
The current 2D culture model systems developed for drug screening are not sufficient to reflect the characteristics of in vivo solid tumors. Therefore, more effective in vitro tumor model systems must be developed for translational studies on therapeutic drug screening and testing. Herein, we report a new ultra-low adhesion (ULA) hydrogel for generating 3D cancer cell spheroids as tumor models in vitro. N-octanoyl glycol chitosan (OGC) was synthesized and coated onto the surface of a typical cell culture dish. Cell spheroids were effectively formed on the OGC-coated surface, and phenotypes of the tumor cells were well maintained during culture. More importantly, U373-MG cells cultured on OGC-coated plates were more resistant to doxorubicin than cells cultured on typical plates. Our OGC-based ULA system may offer a convenient method for 3D cell culture to provide enhanced performance in cancer research, drug screening and toxicology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoonhee Bae
- Division of Applied Medicine, School of Korean Medicine, Pusan National University, Busan 47392, Republic of Korea
| | - Chanyang Joo
- Departments of Polymer Science and Engineering & Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyoung Hwan Park
- Research Group for Biomimetic Advanced Technology, Korea Institute of Toxicology, Daejeon 34114, Republic of Korea
| | - Sun-Woong Kang
- Research Group for Biomimetic Advanced Technology, Korea Institute of Toxicology, Daejeon 34114, Republic of Korea; Human and Environmental Toxicology Program, University of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34134, Republic of Korea.
| | - Kang Moo Huh
- Departments of Polymer Science and Engineering & Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Republic of Korea.
| | - Joon Sig Choi
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Republic of Korea.
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8
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Park J, Kim H, Park JK. Microfluidic channel-integrated hanging drop array chip operated by pushbuttons for spheroid culture and analysis. Analyst 2021; 145:6974-6980. [PMID: 32857069 DOI: 10.1039/d0an01091j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Although the hanging drop methods have a number of advantages for spheroid culture, they suffer from reagent exchange procedures that depend on tedious and accurate liquid handling by manual pipetting or robotic arms. To simplify these procedures, we developed a method for liquid handling in a hanging drop array (HDA) chip for spheroid culture and analysis by integrating microfluidic channels operated by pushbuttons. Six finger-actuated microfluidic pumping units connected to a 3 × 3 HDA can draw or replenish reagents in an HDA chip without any external equipment. The initial cell seeding, medium exchange, and staining for further analysis can be simply done by pushing the buttons in the programmed order. After the assessment of the reagent exchange ratio of the device, BT474 spheroids of various sizes were cultured in the device for 7 days by exchanging the medium once a day and stained on the same device by exchanging the medium with staining reagents for the LIVE/DEAD assay. Furthermore, the cultured spheroids were embedded into collagen by exchanging the medium with a collagen solution to mimic a cancer metastasis environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juhwan Park
- Department of Bio and Brain Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), 291 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea.
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9
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Mertz D, Sentosa J, Luker G, Takayama S. Studying Adipose Tissue in the Breast Tumor Microenvironment In Vitro: Progress and Opportunities. Tissue Eng Regen Med 2020; 17:773-785. [PMID: 32939672 DOI: 10.1007/s13770-020-00299-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2020] [Revised: 08/14/2020] [Accepted: 08/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The breast cancer microenvironment contains a variety of stromal cells that are widely implicated in worse patient outcomes. While many in vitro models of the breast tumor microenvironment have been published, only a small fraction of these feature adipocytes. Adipocytes are a cell type increasingly recognized to have complex functions in breast cancer. METHODS In this review, we examine findings from recent examples of in vitro experiments modeling adipocytes within the local breast tumor microenvironment. RESULTS Both two-dimensional and three-dimensional models of adipocytes in the breast tumor microenvironment are covered in this review and both have uncovered interesting phenomena related to breast tumor progression. CONCLUSION Certain aspects of breast cancer and associated adipocyte biology: extracellular matrix effects, cell-cell contact, and physiological mass transport can only be examined with a three-dimensional culture platform. Opportunities remain for innovative improvements to be made to in vitro models that further increase what is known about adipocytes during breast cancer progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Mertz
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, 313 Ferst Dr NW, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
| | - Jason Sentosa
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, 313 Ferst Dr NW, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
| | - Gary Luker
- Departments of Radiology, Biomedical Engineering, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan, 500 S State St, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Shuichi Takayama
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, 313 Ferst Dr NW, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA. .,Parker H. Petit Institute of Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, 313 Ferst Dr NW, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA.
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10
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Buschhaus JM, Humphries BA, Eckley SS, Robison TH, Cutter AC, Rajendran S, Haley HR, Bevoor AS, Luker KE, Luker GD. Targeting disseminated estrogen-receptor-positive breast cancer cells in bone marrow. Oncogene 2020; 39:5649-5662. [PMID: 32678295 PMCID: PMC7442734 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-020-01391-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2020] [Revised: 06/08/2020] [Accepted: 07/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer can recur up to 20 years after initial diagnosis. Delayed recurrences arise from disseminated tumors cells (DTCs) in sites such as bone marrow that remain quiescent during endocrine therapy and subsequently proliferate to produce clinically detectable metastases. Identifying therapies that eliminate DTCs and/or effectively target cells transitioning to proliferation promises to reduce risk of recurrence. To tackle this problem, we utilized a 3D co-culture model incorporating ER+ breast cancer cells and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells to represent DTCs in a bone marrow niche. 3D co-cultures maintained cancer cells in a quiescent, viable state as measured by both single-cell and population-scale imaging. Single-cell imaging methods for metabolism by fluorescence lifetime (FLIM) of NADH and signaling by kinases Akt and ERK revealed that breast cancer cells utilized oxidative phosphorylation and signaling by Akt to a greater extent both in 3D co-cultures and a mouse model of ER+ breast cancer cells in bone marrow. Using our 3D co-culture model, we discovered that combination therapies targeting oxidative phosphorylation via the thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) inhibitor, D9, and the Akt inhibitor, MK-2206, preferentially eliminated breast cancer cells without altering viability of bone marrow stromal cells. Treatment of mice with disseminated ER+ human breast cancer showed that D9 plus MK-2206 blocked formation of new metastases more effectively than tamoxifen. These data establish an integrated experimental system to investigate DTCs in bone marrow and identify combination therapy against metabolic and kinase targets as a promising approach to effectively target these cells and reduce risk of recurrence in breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanna M Buschhaus
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, 2200 Bonisteel, Blvd., Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-2099, USA
- Center for Molecular Imaging, Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, 109 Zina Pitcher Place, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-2200, USA
| | - Brock A Humphries
- Center for Molecular Imaging, Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, 109 Zina Pitcher Place, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-2200, USA
| | - Samantha S Eckley
- Unit for Laboratory Animal Medicine, University of Michigan, 412 Victor Vaughan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-2200, USA
- Office of Animal Resources, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Tanner H Robison
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, 2200 Bonisteel, Blvd., Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-2099, USA
- Center for Molecular Imaging, Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, 109 Zina Pitcher Place, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-2200, USA
| | - Alyssa C Cutter
- Center for Molecular Imaging, Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, 109 Zina Pitcher Place, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-2200, USA
| | - Shrila Rajendran
- Center for Molecular Imaging, Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, 109 Zina Pitcher Place, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-2200, USA
| | - Henry R Haley
- Center for Molecular Imaging, Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, 109 Zina Pitcher Place, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-2200, USA
| | - Avinash S Bevoor
- Center for Molecular Imaging, Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, 109 Zina Pitcher Place, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-2200, USA
| | - Kathryn E Luker
- Center for Molecular Imaging, Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, 109 Zina Pitcher Place, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-2200, USA
| | - Gary D Luker
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, 2200 Bonisteel, Blvd., Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-2099, USA.
- Center for Molecular Imaging, Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, 109 Zina Pitcher Place, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-2200, USA.
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan, 109 Zina Pitcher Place, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-2200, USA.
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11
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Kang SM, Lee JH, Huh YS, Takayama S. Alginate Microencapsulation for Three-Dimensional In Vitro Cell Culture. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2020; 7:2864-2879. [PMID: 34275299 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.0c00457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Advances in microscale 3D cell culture systems have helped to elucidate cellular physiology, understand mechanisms of stem cell differentiation, produce pathophysiological models, and reveal important cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions. An important consideration for such studies is the choice of material for encapsulating cells and associated extracellular matrix (ECM). This Review focuses on the use of alginate hydrogels, which are versatile owing to their simple gelation process following an ionic cross-linking mechanism in situ, with no need for procedures that can be potentially toxic to cells, such as heating, the use of solvents, and UV exposure. This Review aims to give some perspectives, particularly to researchers who typically work more with poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS), on the use of alginate as an alternative material to construct microphysiological cell culture systems. More specifically, this Review describes how physicochemical characteristics of alginate hydrogels can be tuned with regards to their biocompatibility, porosity, mechanical strength, ligand presentation, and biodegradability. A number of cell culture applications are also described, and these are subcategorized according to whether the alginate material is used to homogeneously embed cells, to micropattern multiple cellular microenvironments, or to provide an outer shell that creates a space in the core for cells and other ECM components. The Review ends with perspectives on future challenges and opportunities for 3D cell culture applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sung-Min Kang
- Wallace H Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory School of Medicine, Atlanta, 30332, United States of America.,The Parker H Petit Institute of Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, 30332, United States of America.,NanoBio High-Tech Materials Research Center, Department of Biological Engineering, Inha University, 100 Inha-ro, Incheon, 22212, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji-Hoon Lee
- Wallace H Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory School of Medicine, Atlanta, 30332, United States of America.,The Parker H Petit Institute of Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, 30332, United States of America
| | - Yun Suk Huh
- NanoBio High-Tech Materials Research Center, Department of Biological Engineering, Inha University, 100 Inha-ro, Incheon, 22212, Republic of Korea
| | - Shuichi Takayama
- Wallace H Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory School of Medicine, Atlanta, 30332, United States of America.,The Parker H Petit Institute of Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, 30332, United States of America
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12
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A Dynamic Hanging-Drop System for Mesenchymal Stem Cell Culture. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21124298. [PMID: 32560269 PMCID: PMC7352343 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21124298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2020] [Revised: 06/02/2020] [Accepted: 06/13/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
There have been many microfluid technologies combined with hanging-drop for cell culture gotten developed in the past decade. A common problem within these devices is that the cell suspension introduced at the central inlet could cause a number of cells in each microwell to not regularize. Also, the instability of droplets during the spheroid formation remains an unsolved ordeal. In this study, we designed a microfluidic-based hanging-drop culture system with the design of taper-tube that can increase the stability of droplets while enhancing the rate of liquid exchange. A ring is surrounding the taper-tube. The ring can hold the cells to enable us to seed an adequate amount of cells before perfusion. Moreover, during the period of cell culture, the mechanical force around the cell is relatively low to prevent stem cells from differentiate and maintain the phenotype. As a result of our hanging system design, cells are designed to accumulate at the bottom of the droplet. This method enhances convenience for observation activities and analysis of experiments. Thus, this microfluid chip can be used as an in vitro platform representing in vivo physiological conditions, and can be useful in regenerative therapy.
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13
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Samal P, Maurer P, van Blitterswijk C, Truckenmüller R, Giselbrecht S. A New Microengineered Platform for 4D Tracking of Single Cells in a Stem-Cell-Based In Vitro Morphogenesis Model. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2020; 32:e1907966. [PMID: 32346909 DOI: 10.1002/adma.201907966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2019] [Revised: 03/09/2020] [Accepted: 03/22/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Recently developed stem-cell-based in vitro models of morphogenesis can help shed light on the mechanisms involved in embryonic patterning. These models are showcased using traditional cell culture platforms and materials, which allow limited control over the biological system and usually do not support high-content imaging. In contrast, using advanced microengineered tools can help in microscale control, long-term culture, and real-time data acquisition from such biological models and aid in elucidating the underlying mechanisms. Here, a new culturing, manipulation and analysis platform is described to study in vitro morphogenesis using thin polycarbonate film-based microdevices. A pipeline consisting of open-source software to quantify 3D cell movement using 4D image acquisition is developed to analyze cell migration within the multicellular clusters. It is shown that the platform can be used to control and study morphogenesis in non-adherent cultures of the P19C5 mouse stem cell line and mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) that show symmetry breaking and axial elongation events similar to early embryonic development. Using the new platform, it is found that localized cell proliferation and coordinated cell migration result in elongation morphogenesis of the P19C5 aggregates. Further, it is found that polarization and elongation of mESC aggregates are dependent on directed cell migration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pinak Samal
- MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 40, Maastricht, 6229 ER, The Netherlands
| | - Philipp Maurer
- MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 40, Maastricht, 6229 ER, The Netherlands
| | - Clemens van Blitterswijk
- MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 40, Maastricht, 6229 ER, The Netherlands
| | - Roman Truckenmüller
- MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 40, Maastricht, 6229 ER, The Netherlands
| | - Stefan Giselbrecht
- MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 40, Maastricht, 6229 ER, The Netherlands
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14
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Sensing Senses: Optical Biosensors to Study Gustation. SENSORS 2020; 20:s20071811. [PMID: 32218129 PMCID: PMC7180777 DOI: 10.3390/s20071811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2020] [Revised: 03/19/2020] [Accepted: 03/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The five basic taste modalities, sweet, bitter, umami, salty and sour induce changes of Ca2+ levels, pH and/or membrane potential in taste cells of the tongue and/or in neurons that convey and decode gustatory signals to the brain. Optical biosensors, which can be either synthetic dyes or genetically encoded proteins whose fluorescence spectra depend on levels of Ca2+, pH or membrane potential, have been used in primary cells/tissues or in recombinant systems to study taste-related intra- and intercellular signaling mechanisms or to discover new ligands. Taste-evoked responses were measured by microscopy achieving high spatial and temporal resolution, while plate readers were employed for higher throughput screening. Here, these approaches making use of fluorescent optical biosensors to investigate specific taste-related questions or to screen new agonists/antagonists for the different taste modalities were reviewed systematically. Furthermore, in the context of recent developments in genetically encoded sensors, 3D cultures and imaging technologies, we propose new feasible approaches for studying taste physiology and for compound screening.
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15
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Cutrona MB, Simpson JC. A High-Throughput Automated Confocal Microscopy Platform for Quantitative Phenotyping of Nanoparticle Uptake and Transport in Spheroids. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2019; 15:e1902033. [PMID: 31334922 DOI: 10.1002/smll.201902033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2019] [Revised: 06/24/2019] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
There is a high demand for advanced, image-based, automated high-content screening (HCS) approaches to facilitate phenotypic screening in 3D cell culture models. A major challenge lies in retaining the resolution of fine cellular detail but at the same time imaging multicellular structures at a large scale. In this study, a confocal microscopy-based HCS platform in optical multiwell plates that enables the quantitative morphological profiling of populations of nonuniform spheroids obtained from HT-29 human colorectal cancer cells is described. This platform is then utilized to demonstrate a quantitative dissection of the penetration of synthetic nanoparticles (NP) in multicellular 3D spheroids at multiple levels of scale. A pilot RNA interference-based screening validates this methodology and identifies a subset of RAB GTPases that regulate NP trafficking in these spheroids. This technology is suitable for high-content phenotyping in 3D cell-based screening, providing a framework for nanomedicine drug development as applied to translational oncology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meritxell B Cutrona
- School of Biology and Environmental Science & Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research, University College Dublin (UCD), D04 N2E5, Dublin, Ireland
- Centre for Research in Medical Devices (CÚRAM), Galway, H91 W2TY, Ireland
| | - Jeremy C Simpson
- School of Biology and Environmental Science & Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research, University College Dublin (UCD), D04 N2E5, Dublin, Ireland
- Centre for Research in Medical Devices (CÚRAM), Galway, H91 W2TY, Ireland
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16
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St-Georges-Robillard A, Cahuzac M, Péant B, Fleury H, Lateef MA, Ricard A, Sauriol A, Leblond F, Mes-Masson AM, Gervais T. Long-term fluorescence hyperspectral imaging of on-chip treated co-culture tumour spheroids to follow clonal evolution. Integr Biol (Camb) 2019; 11:130-141. [PMID: 31172192 DOI: 10.1093/intbio/zyz012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2018] [Revised: 03/09/2019] [Accepted: 05/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Multicellular tumour spheroids are an ideal in vitro tumour model to study clonal heterogeneity and drug resistance in cancer research because different cell types can be mixed at will. However, measuring the individual response of each cell population over time is challenging: current methods are either destructive, such as flow cytometry, or cannot image throughout a spheroid, such as confocal microscopy. Our group previously developed a wide-field fluorescence hyperspectral imaging system to study spheroids formed and cultured in microfluidic chips. In the present study, two subclones of a single parental ovarian cancer cell line transfected to express different fluorophores were produced and co-culture spheroids were formed on-chip using ratios forming highly asymmetric subpopulations. We performed a 3D proliferation assay on each cell population forming the spheroids that matched the 2D growth behaviour. Response assays to PARP inhibitors and platinum-based drugs were also performed to follow the clonal evolution of mixed populations. Our experiments show that hyperspectral imaging can detect spheroid response before observing a decrease in spheroid diameter. Hyperspectral imaging and microfluidic-based spheroid assays provide a versatile solution to study clonal heterogeneity, able to measure response in subpopulations presenting as little as 10% of the initial spheroid.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amélie St-Georges-Robillard
- Polytechnique Montréal, Department of Engineering Physics and Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Montreal, Canada
- Centre de recherche du Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal and Institut du cancer de Montréal, Montreal, Canada
| | - Maxime Cahuzac
- Centre de recherche du Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal and Institut du cancer de Montréal, Montreal, Canada
| | - Benjamin Péant
- Centre de recherche du Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal and Institut du cancer de Montréal, Montreal, Canada
- TransMedTech Institute, Montréal, Canada
| | - Hubert Fleury
- Centre de recherche du Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal and Institut du cancer de Montréal, Montreal, Canada
| | - Muhammad Abdul Lateef
- Centre de recherche du Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal and Institut du cancer de Montréal, Montreal, Canada
| | - Alexis Ricard
- Centre de recherche du Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal and Institut du cancer de Montréal, Montreal, Canada
| | - Alexandre Sauriol
- Centre de recherche du Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal and Institut du cancer de Montréal, Montreal, Canada
| | - Frédéric Leblond
- Polytechnique Montréal, Department of Engineering Physics and Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Montreal, Canada
- Centre de recherche du Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal and Institut du cancer de Montréal, Montreal, Canada
| | - Anne-Marie Mes-Masson
- Centre de recherche du Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal and Institut du cancer de Montréal, Montreal, Canada
- Université de Montréal, Department of Medicine, Montreal, Canada
| | - Thomas Gervais
- Polytechnique Montréal, Department of Engineering Physics and Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Montreal, Canada
- Centre de recherche du Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal and Institut du cancer de Montréal, Montreal, Canada
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17
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Masiello T, Dhall A, Hemachandra LPM, Tokranova N, Melendez JA, Castracane J. A Dynamic Culture Method to Produce Ovarian Cancer Spheroids under Physiologically-Relevant Shear Stress. Cells 2018; 7:E277. [PMID: 30572633 PMCID: PMC6316168 DOI: 10.3390/cells7120277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2018] [Revised: 12/13/2018] [Accepted: 12/17/2018] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The transcoelomic metastasis pathway is an alternative to traditional lymphatic/hematogenic metastasis. It is most frequently observed in ovarian cancer, though it has been documented in colon and gastric cancers as well. In transcoelomic metastasis, primary tumor cells are released into the abdominal cavity and form cell aggregates known as spheroids. These spheroids travel through the peritoneal fluid and implant at secondary sites, leading to the formation of new tumor lesions in the peritoneal lining and the organs in the cavity. Models of this process that incorporate the fluid shear stress (FSS) experienced by these spheroids are few, and most have not been fully characterized. Proposed herein is the adaption of a known dynamic cell culture system, the orbital shaker, to create an environment with physiologically-relevant FSS for spheroid formation. Experimental conditions (rotation speed, well size and cell density) were optimized to achieve physiologically-relevant FSS while facilitating the formation of spheroids that are also of a physiologically-relevant size. The FSS improves the roundness and size consistency of spheroids versus equivalent static methods and are even comparable to established high-throughput arrays, while maintaining nearly equivalent viability. This effect was seen in both highly metastatic and modestly metastatic cell lines. The spheroids generated using this technique were fully amenable to functional assays and will allow for better characterization of FSS's effects on metastatic behavior and serve as a drug screening platform. This model can also be built upon in the future by adding more aspects of the peritoneal microenvironment, further enhancing its in vivo relevance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy Masiello
- Colleges of Nanoscale Science and Engineering, SUNY Polytechnic Institute, Albany, NY 12203, USA.
| | - Atul Dhall
- Colleges of Nanoscale Science and Engineering, SUNY Polytechnic Institute, Albany, NY 12203, USA.
| | | | - Natalya Tokranova
- Colleges of Nanoscale Science and Engineering, SUNY Polytechnic Institute, Albany, NY 12203, USA.
| | - J Andres Melendez
- Colleges of Nanoscale Science and Engineering, SUNY Polytechnic Institute, Albany, NY 12203, USA.
| | - James Castracane
- Colleges of Nanoscale Science and Engineering, SUNY Polytechnic Institute, Albany, NY 12203, USA.
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18
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Kim H, Cho CH, Park JK. High-throughput culture and embedment of spheroid array using droplet contact-based spheroid transfer. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2018; 12:044109. [PMID: 30867862 PMCID: PMC6404923 DOI: 10.1063/1.5039965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2018] [Accepted: 07/01/2018] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Spheroids are one of the most representative models of 3D cell culture, which can be easily formed using conventional hanging drop method. However, medium change and spheroid transferring process are the bottlenecks that reduce the throughput of the entire process in the hanging drop culture. In addition, the embedment of spheroid into hydrogel still depends on the individual pipetting process. To overcome these issues, we present poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS)-based simple devices which can exploit droplet contact-based spheroid transfer using a drop array chip (DAC) having an array of well structures and peripheral rims. When the upper spheroid-containing drops were in contact with the lower liquid drops, the air-liquid interface disappeared at the merged surface and the spheroids settled down due to gravitational force. This method was applied to repetitive medium change and live/dead staining of spheroids cultured with the hanging drop method. To simultaneously embed the spheroids into the corresponding collagen hydrogel drops, a PDMS-based pillar array chip (PAC) was contacted in advance with the spheroid-containing DAC. The contacted PAC then contained the spheroids trapped in small drops of liquid reduced in volume to around 0.5 μl. Consequently, the spheroids were embedded into the collagen drops at once by contacting the spheroid-containing PAC with the collagen-loaded DAC. The embedded spheroids using the DAC-PAC contacting method showed a reliable invasion behavior compared to the embedded spheroids using conventional manual pipetting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hwisoo Kim
- Department of Bio and Brain Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), 291 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Chang Hyun Cho
- Department of Bio and Brain Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), 291 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Je-Kyun Park
- Department of Bio and Brain Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), 291 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
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19
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Buschhaus JM, Humphries B, Luker KE, Luker GD. A Caspase-3 Reporter for Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging of Single-Cell Apoptosis. Cells 2018; 7:cells7060057. [PMID: 30720785 PMCID: PMC6025355 DOI: 10.3390/cells7060057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2018] [Revised: 06/01/2018] [Accepted: 06/08/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM) is a powerful imaging modality used to gather fluorescent reporter data independent of intracellular reporter intensity or imaging depth. We applied this technique to image real-time activation of a reporter for the proteolytic enzyme, caspase-3, in response to apoptotic cell death. This caspase-3 reporter activity provides valuable insight into cancer cell responsiveness to therapy and overall viability at a single-cell scale. Cleavage of a aspartate-glutamate-valine-aspartate (DEVD) linkage sequence alters Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) within the reporter, affecting its lifetime. Cellular apoptosis was quantified in multiple environments ranging from 2D flat and 3D spheroid cell culture systems to in vivo murine mammary tumor xenografts. We evaluated cell-by-cell apoptotic responses to multiple pharmacological and genetic methods of interest involved in cancer cell death. Within this article, we describe methods for measuring caspase-3 activation at single-cell resolution in various complex environments using FLIM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanna M Buschhaus
- Center for Molecular Imaging, Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48190, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48190, USA.
| | - Brock Humphries
- Center for Molecular Imaging, Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48190, USA.
| | - Kathryn E Luker
- Center for Molecular Imaging, Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48190, USA.
| | - Gary D Luker
- Center for Molecular Imaging, Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48190, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48190, USA.
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48190, USA.
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20
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Joshi P, Datar A, Yu KN, Kang SY, Lee MY. High-content imaging assays on a miniaturized 3D cell culture platform. Toxicol In Vitro 2018; 50:147-159. [PMID: 29501531 DOI: 10.1016/j.tiv.2018.02.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2017] [Revised: 02/19/2018] [Accepted: 02/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The majority of high-content imaging (HCI) assays have been performed on two-dimensional (2D) cell monolayers for its convenience and throughput. However, 2D-cultured cell models often do not represent the in vivo characteristics accurately and therefore reduce the predictability of drug toxicity/efficacy in vivo. Recently, three-dimensional (3D) cell-based HCI assays have been demonstrated to improve predictability, but its use is limited due to difficulty in maneuverability and low throughput in cell imaging. To alleviate these issues, we have developed miniaturized 3D cell culture on a micropillar/microwell chip and demonstrated high-throughput HCI assays for mechanistic toxicity. Briefly, Hep3B human hepatoma cell line was encapsulated in a mixture of alginate and fibrin gel on the micropillar chip, cultured in 3D, and exposed to six model compounds in the microwell chip for rapidly assessing mechanistic hepatotoxicity. Several toxicity parameters, including DNA damage, mitochondrial impairment, intracellular glutathione level, and cell membrane integrity were measured on the chip, and the IC50 values of the compounds at different readouts were determined to investigate the mechanism of toxicity. Overall, the Z' factors were between 0.6 and 0.8 for the HCI assays, and the coefficient of variation (CV) were below 20%. These results indicate high robustness and reproducibility of the HCI assays established on the miniaturized 3D cell culture chip. In addition, it was possible to determine the predominant mechanism of toxicity using the 3D HCI assays. Therefore, our miniaturized 3D cell culture coupled with HCI assays has great potential for high-throughput screening (HTS) of compounds and mechanistic toxicity profiling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pranav Joshi
- Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Cleveland State University, 455 Fenn Hall, 1960 East 24th Street, Cleveland, OH 44115-2214, USA
| | - Akshata Datar
- Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Cleveland State University, 455 Fenn Hall, 1960 East 24th Street, Cleveland, OH 44115-2214, USA
| | - Kyeong-Nam Yu
- Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Cleveland State University, 455 Fenn Hall, 1960 East 24th Street, Cleveland, OH 44115-2214, USA
| | - Soo-Yeon Kang
- Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Cleveland State University, 455 Fenn Hall, 1960 East 24th Street, Cleveland, OH 44115-2214, USA
| | - Moo-Yeal Lee
- Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Cleveland State University, 455 Fenn Hall, 1960 East 24th Street, Cleveland, OH 44115-2214, USA.
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21
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In vivo therapeutic applications of cell spheroids. Biotechnol Adv 2018; 36:494-505. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2018.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2017] [Revised: 02/01/2018] [Accepted: 02/01/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
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22
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Marimuthu M, Rousset N, St-Georges-Robillard A, Lateef MA, Ferland M, Mes-Masson AM, Gervais T. Multi-size spheroid formation using microfluidic funnels. LAB ON A CHIP 2018; 18:304-314. [PMID: 29211088 DOI: 10.1039/c7lc00970d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
We present a microfluidic platform for automatic multi-size spheroid formation within constant volume hanging droplets (HDs) from a single inlet loading of a constant cell concentration. The platform introduces three technological improvements over the existing spheroid formation platforms: 1) cell seeding control is achieved by enrichment of a cell solution rather than dilution; 2) cell seeding in each HD is fully independent and pre-programmable at the design stage; 3) the fabricated chip operates well using a hydrophobic PDMS surface, ensuring long-term storage possibility for device usage. Pre-programmed cell seeding densities at each HD are achieved using a "microfluidic funnel" layer, which has an array of cone-shaped wells with increasing apex angles acting as a metering unit. The integrated platform is designed to form, treat, stain, and image multi-size spheroids on-chip. Spheroids can be analyzed on-chip or easily transferred to conventional well plates for further processing. Empirically, enrichment factors up to 37× have been demonstrated, resulting in viable spheroids of diameters ranging from 230-420 μm and 280-530 μm for OV90 and TOV112D cell lines, respectively. We envision that microfluidic funnels and single inlet multi-size spheroid (SIMSS) chips will find broad application in 3D biological assays where size-dependent responses are expected, including chemoresponse assays, photodynamic therapy assays, and other assays involving drug transport characterization in drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Marimuthu
- Department of Engineering Physics, Polytechnique Montréal, Canada.
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23
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A Facile, In Vitro 384-Well Plate System to Model Disseminated Tumor Cells in the Bone Marrow Microenvironment. Methods Mol Biol 2018; 1686:201-213. [PMID: 29030823 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-7371-2_15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Bone marrow disseminated tumor cells (DTCs) are dormant cancer cells that harbor themselves in a bone marrow niche for years after patient remission before potentially returning to a proliferative state, causing recurrent cancer. DTCs reside in bone marrow environments with physiologically important mesenchymal stem cells that are often negatively affected by chemotherapy treatments. Currently, there are very few models of DTCs that recapitulate their dormant phenotype while producing enough samples to accurately quantify cancer and surrounding stromal cell behaviors. We present a three-dimensional spheroid-based model system that uses dual-color bioluminescence imaging to quantify differential cell viability in response to various compounds. We successfully screened for compounds that selectively eliminated cancer cells versus supportive stromal cells and verified results with comparison to efficacy in vivo. The spheroid coculture system successfully modeled key aspects of DTCs in the bone marrow microenvironment, facilitating testing for compounds to selectively eliminate DTCs.
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24
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Buschhaus JM, Gibbons AE, Luker KE, Luker GD. Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging of a Caspase-3 Apoptosis Reporter. CURRENT PROTOCOLS IN CELL BIOLOGY 2017; 77:21.12.1-21.12.12. [PMID: 29227553 PMCID: PMC5729923 DOI: 10.1002/cpcb.36] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Caspase-3 is a proteolytic enzyme that functions as a key effector in apoptotic cell death. Determining activity of caspase-3 provides critical information about cancer cell viability and response to treatment. To measure apoptosis in intact cells and living mice, a fluorescence imaging reporter that detects caspase-3 activity by Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) was used. Changes in FRET by fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) were measured. Unlike FRET measurements based on fluorescence intensity, lifetime measurements are independent of reporter concentration and scattering of light in tissue, making FLIM a robust method for imaging in 3D environments. Apoptosis of breast cancer cells in 2D culture, spheroids, and in vivo murine breast tumor xenografts in response to a variety of genetic and pharmacologic methods implicated in apoptosis of cancer cells was studied. This approach for quantifying apoptosis of cancer cells is based on caspase-3 activity at single-cell resolution using FLIM. © 2017 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanna M. Buschhaus
- Center for Molecular Imaging, Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | | | - Kathryn E. Luker
- Center for Molecular Imaging, Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Gary D. Luker
- Center for Molecular Imaging, Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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25
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Widder M, Lemke K, Kekeç B, Förster T, Grodrian A, Gastrock G. A modified 384-well-device for versatile use in 3D cancer cell (co-)cultivation and screening for investigations of tumor biology in vitro. Eng Life Sci 2017; 18:132-139. [PMID: 29610566 PMCID: PMC5873453 DOI: 10.1002/elsc.201700008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2017] [Revised: 06/28/2017] [Accepted: 10/10/2017] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer exhibits a worst prognosis owed to an aggressive tumor progression i.a. driven by chemoresistance or tumor‐stroma‐interactions. The identification of candidate genes, which promote this progression, can lead to new therapeutic targets and might improve patient's outcome. The identification of these candidates in a plethora of genes requires suitable screening protocols. The aim of the present study was to establish a universally usable device which ensures versatile cultivation, screening and handling protocols of cancer cells with the 3D spheroid model, an approved model to study tumor biology. By surface modification and alternative handling of a commercial 384‐well plate, a modified device enabling (i) 3D cultivation either by liquid overlay or by a modified hanging drop method for (ii) screening of substances as well as for tumor‐stroma‐interactions (iii) either with manual or automated handling was established. The here presented preliminary results of cell line dependent dose‐response‐relations and a stromal‐induced spheroid‐formation of the pancreatic cancer cells demonstrate the proof‐of‐principle of the versatile functionality of this device. By adapting the protocols to automation, a higher reproducibility and the ability for high‐throughput analyses were ensured.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miriam Widder
- Department of Bioprocess Engineering Institute for Bioprocessing and Analytical Measurement Techniques e.V. Rosenhof Heilbad Heiligenstadt Germany
| | - Karen Lemke
- Department of Bioprocess Engineering Institute for Bioprocessing and Analytical Measurement Techniques e.V. Rosenhof Heilbad Heiligenstadt Germany
| | - Bünyamin Kekeç
- Department of Bioprocess Engineering Institute for Bioprocessing and Analytical Measurement Techniques e.V. Rosenhof Heilbad Heiligenstadt Germany
| | - Tobias Förster
- Department of Bioprocess Engineering Institute for Bioprocessing and Analytical Measurement Techniques e.V. Rosenhof Heilbad Heiligenstadt Germany
| | - Andreas Grodrian
- Department of Bioprocess Engineering Institute for Bioprocessing and Analytical Measurement Techniques e.V. Rosenhof Heilbad Heiligenstadt Germany
| | - Gunter Gastrock
- Department of Bioprocess Engineering Institute for Bioprocessing and Analytical Measurement Techniques e.V. Rosenhof Heilbad Heiligenstadt Germany
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Three-dimensional spheroid culture targeting versatile tissue bioassays using a PDMS-based hanging drop array. Sci Rep 2017; 7:4363. [PMID: 28663555 PMCID: PMC5491519 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-04718-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2017] [Accepted: 05/18/2017] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Biomaterial-based tissue culture platforms have emerged as useful tools to mimic in vivo physiological microenvironments in experimental cell biology and clinical studies. We describe herein a three-dimensional (3D) tissue culture platform using a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-based hanging drop array (PDMS-HDA) methodology. Multicellular spheroids can be achieved within 24 h and further boosted by incorporating collagen fibrils in PDMS-HDA. In addition, the spheroids generated from different human tumor cells exhibited distinct sensitivities toward drug chemotherapeutic agents and radiation as compared with two-dimensional (2D) cultures that often lack in vivo-like biological insights. We also demonstrated that multicellular spheroids may enable key hallmarks of tissue-based bioassays, including drug screening, tumor dissemination, cell co-culture, and tumor invasion. Taken together, these results offer new opportunities not only to achieve the active control of 3D multicellular spheroids on demand, but also to establish a rapid and cost-effective platform to study anti-cancer therapeutics and tumor microenvironments.
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27
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Abstract
A three-dimensional (3D) tissue model has significant advantages over the conventional two-dimensional (2D) model. A 3D model mimics the relevant in-vivo physiological conditions, allowing a cell culture to serve as an effective tool for drug discovery, tissue engineering, and the investigation of disease pathology. The present reviews highlight the recent advances and the development of microfluidics based methods for the generation of cell spheroids. The paper emphasizes on the application of microfluidic technology for tissue engineering including the formation of multicellular spheroids (MCS). Further, the paper discusses the recent technical advances in the integration of microfluidic devices for MCS-based high-throughput drug screening. The review compares the various microfluidic techniques and finally provides a perspective for the future opportunities in this research area.
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28
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Matak D, Brodaczewska KK, Lipiec M, Szymanski Ł, Szczylik C, Czarnecka AM. Colony, hanging drop, and methylcellulose three dimensional hypoxic growth optimization of renal cell carcinoma cell lines. Cytotechnology 2017; 69:565-578. [PMID: 28321776 PMCID: PMC5507837 DOI: 10.1007/s10616-016-0063-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2016] [Accepted: 12/28/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the most lethal of the common urologic malignancies, comprising 3% of all human neoplasms, and the incidence of kidney cancer is rising annually. We need new approaches to target tumor cells that are resistant to current therapies and that give rise to recurrence and treatment failure. In this study, we focused on low oxygen tension and three-dimensional (3D) cell culture incorporation to develop a new RCC growth model. We used the hanging drop and colony formation methods, which are common in 3D culture, as well as a unique methylcellulose (MC) method. For the experiments, we used human primary RCC cell lines, metastatic RCC cell lines, human kidney cancer stem cells, and human healthy epithelial cells. In the hanging drop assay, we verified the potential of various cell lines to create solid aggregates in hypoxic and normoxic conditions. With the semi-soft agar method, we also determined the ability of various cell lines to create colonies under different oxygen conditions. Different cell behavior observed in the MC method versus the hanging drop and colony formation assays suggests that these three assays may be useful to test various cell properties. However, MC seems to be a particularly valuable alternative for 3D cell culture, as its higher efficiency of aggregate formation and serum independency are of interest in different areas of cancer biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Damian Matak
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Department of Oncology, Military Institute of Medicine, Szaserow 128, 04-141, Warsaw, Poland.,School of Molecular Medicine, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Klaudia K Brodaczewska
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Department of Oncology, Military Institute of Medicine, Szaserow 128, 04-141, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Monika Lipiec
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Department of Oncology, Military Institute of Medicine, Szaserow 128, 04-141, Warsaw, Poland.,Faculty of Pharmacy with Laboratory Medicine Division, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Łukasz Szymanski
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Department of Oncology, Military Institute of Medicine, Szaserow 128, 04-141, Warsaw, Poland.,Institute of Genetics and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.,Department of Microwave Safety, Military Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Cezary Szczylik
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Department of Oncology, Military Institute of Medicine, Szaserow 128, 04-141, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Anna M Czarnecka
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Department of Oncology, Military Institute of Medicine, Szaserow 128, 04-141, Warsaw, Poland.
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29
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Fong ELS, Toh TB, Yu H, Chow EKH. 3D Culture as a Clinically Relevant Model for Personalized Medicine. SLAS Technol 2017; 22:245-253. [PMID: 28277923 DOI: 10.1177/2472630317697251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Advances in understanding many of the fundamental mechanisms of cancer progression have led to the development of molecular targeted therapies. While molecular targeted therapeutics continue to improve the outcome for cancer patients, tumor heterogeneity among patients, as well as intratumoral heterogeneity, limits the efficacy of these drugs to specific patient subtypes, as well as contributes to relapse. Thus, there is a need for a more personalized approach toward drug development and diagnosis that takes into account the diversity of cancer patients, as well as the complex milieu of tumor cells within a single patient. Three-dimensional (3D) culture systems paired with patient-derived xenografts or patient-derived organoids may provide a more clinically relevant system to address issues presented by personalized or precision medical approaches. In this review, we cover the current methods available for applying 3D culture systems toward personalized cancer research and drug development, as well as key challenges that must be addressed in order to fully realize the potential of 3D patient-derived culture systems for cancer drug development. Greater implementation of 3D patient-derived culture systems in the cancer research field should accelerate the development of truly personalized medical therapies for cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eliza Li Shan Fong
- 1 Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Tan Boon Toh
- 2 Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Hanry Yu
- 1 Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.,3 Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, A*STAR, Singapore.,6 Mechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Edward Kai-Hua Chow
- 2 Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore.,8 Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
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30
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Lee GH, Park YE, Cho M, Park H, Park JY. Magnetic force-assisted self-locking metallic bead array for fabrication of diverse concave microwell geometries. LAB ON A CHIP 2016; 16:3565-3575. [PMID: 27509885 DOI: 10.1039/c6lc00661b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Spheroid cell culture is very useful for further understanding cellular behavior including motility and biochemical reaction since it mimics three-dimensional (3D) in vivo organ tissue. Among previously proposed various methods for spheroid production, such as hanging drop and spinner flask, microwell is a recently developed method harnessing microtechnology to produce uniform-sized spheroids. Although soft-lithography has been popular for creating microwell arrays, a 3D spherical geometry has been regarded as difficult to fabricate using conventional methods, or often requires complex fabrication processes and expensive equipment. Here, we propose a new method for fabricating concave microwells for cell spheroid production and culture. To demonstrate this method, we fabricated a 30 × 30 microwell array in 3 × 3 cm plates, utilizing metal beads, a through-hole array, and an assembly of small magnets. The spherical metal beads were used as a mold for the microwell, naturally creating the desired 3D concave microwell geometry. One of the key ideas was to place and hold each metal bead in the designated through-hole using the small magnet array. We also performed computational simulation of the magnetostatic force to design and observe the magnetic force field in detail. In addition, to provide a practical demonstration of the proposed system in cell biology, we created and cultured adipose-derived stem cell spheroids for 14 days for chondrogenic differentiation. This method allows further variations in microwell geometry that will enhance the method's applicability as a helpful tool for various studies in cell biology, cancer research, and tissue engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gi-Hun Lee
- School of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, Chung-Ang University, 84 Heukseok-ro, Dongjak-gu, Seoul 06974, Republic of Korea.
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31
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Cavnar SP, Rickelmann AD, Meguiar KF, Xiao A, Dosch J, Leung BM, Cai Lesher-Perez S, Chitta S, Luker KE, Takayama S, Luker GD. Modeling selective elimination of quiescent cancer cells from bone marrow. Neoplasia 2016; 17:625-33. [PMID: 26408255 PMCID: PMC4674483 DOI: 10.1016/j.neo.2015.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2015] [Revised: 07/31/2015] [Accepted: 08/10/2015] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Patients with many types of malignancy commonly harbor quiescent disseminated tumor cells in bone marrow. These cells frequently resist chemotherapy and may persist for years before proliferating as recurrent metastases. To test for compounds that eliminate quiescent cancer cells, we established a new 384-well 3D spheroid model in which small numbers of cancer cells reversibly arrest in G1/G0 phase of the cell cycle when cultured with bone marrow stromal cells. Using dual-color bioluminescence imaging to selectively quantify viability of cancer and stromal cells in the same spheroid, we identified single compounds and combination treatments that preferentially eliminated quiescent breast cancer cells but not stromal cells. A treatment combination effective against malignant cells in spheroids also eliminated breast cancer cells from bone marrow in a mouse xenograft model. This research establishes a novel screening platform for therapies that selectively target quiescent tumor cells, facilitating identification of new drugs to prevent recurrent cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen P Cavnar
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan College of Engineering, Ann Arbor, MI 48109; Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan College of Engineering, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
| | - Andrew D Rickelmann
- Department of Radiology, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI 48109; Center for Molecular Imaging, Department of Radiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
| | - Kaille F Meguiar
- Department of Radiology, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI 48109; Center for Molecular Imaging, Department of Radiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
| | - Annie Xiao
- Department of Radiology, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI 48109; Center for Molecular Imaging, Department of Radiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
| | - Joseph Dosch
- Department of Radiology, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
| | - Brendan M Leung
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan College of Engineering, Ann Arbor, MI 48109; Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan College of Engineering, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
| | - Sasha Cai Lesher-Perez
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan College of Engineering, Ann Arbor, MI 48109; Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan College of Engineering, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
| | - Shashank Chitta
- Department of Radiology, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI 48109; Center for Molecular Imaging, Department of Radiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
| | - Kathryn E Luker
- Department of Radiology, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI 48109; Department of Macromolecular Science and Engineering, University of Michigan College of Engineering, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
| | - Shuichi Takayama
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan College of Engineering, Ann Arbor, MI 48109; Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan College of Engineering, Ann Arbor, MI 48109; Department of Macromolecular Science and Engineering, University of Michigan College of Engineering, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
| | - Gary D Luker
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan College of Engineering, Ann Arbor, MI 48109; Department of Radiology, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI 48109; Center for Molecular Imaging, Department of Radiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109.
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32
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Cavnar SP, Xiao A, Gibbons AE, Rickelmann AD, Neely T, Luker KE, Takayama S, Luker GD. Imaging Sensitivity of Quiescent Cancer Cells to Metabolic Perturbations in Bone Marrow Spheroids. Tomography 2016; 2:146-157. [PMID: 27478871 PMCID: PMC4963031 DOI: 10.18383/j.tom.2016.00157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Malignant cells from breast cancer and other common cancers such as prostate and melanoma may persist in bone marrow as quiescent, non-dividing cells that remain viable for years or even decades before resuming proliferation to cause recurrent disease. This phenomenon, referred to clinically as tumor dormancy, poses tremendous challenges to curing patients with breast cancer. Quiescent tumor cells resist chemotherapy drugs that predominantly target proliferating cells, limiting success of neo-adjuvant and adjuvant therapies. We recently developed a 3D spheroid model of quiescent breast cancer cells in bone marrow for mechanistic and drug testing studies. We combined this model with optical imaging methods for label-free detection of cells preferentially utilizing glycolysis versus oxidative metabolism to investigate the metabolic state of co-culture spheroids with different bone marrow stromal and breast cancer cells. Through imaging and biochemical assays, we identified different metabolic states of bone marrow stromal cells that control metabolic status and flexibilities of co-cultured breast cancer cells. We tested metabolic stresses and targeted inhibition of specific metabolic pathways to identify approaches to preferentially eliminate quiescent breast cancer cells from bone marrow environments. These studies establish an integrated imaging approach to analyze metabolism in complex tissue environments to identify new metabolically-targeted cancer therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen P. Cavnar
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan College of Engineering, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan College of Engineering, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Annie Xiao
- Department of Radiology, Center for Molecular Imaging, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Anne E. Gibbons
- Department of Radiology, Center for Molecular Imaging, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Andrew D. Rickelmann
- Department of Radiology, Center for Molecular Imaging, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Taylor Neely
- Department of Radiology, Center for Molecular Imaging, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Kathryn E. Luker
- Department of Radiology, Center for Molecular Imaging, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Shuichi Takayama
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan College of Engineering, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan College of Engineering, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Department of Macromolecular Science and Engineering, University of Michigan College of Engineering, Ann Arbor, Michigan; and
| | - Gary D. Luker
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan College of Engineering, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Department of Radiology, Center for Molecular Imaging, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Department of Macromolecular Science and Engineering, University of Michigan College of Engineering, Ann Arbor, Michigan; and
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
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33
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Wu C, Wang B, Zhang C, Wysk RA, Chen YW. Bioprinting: an assessment based on manufacturing readiness levels. Crit Rev Biotechnol 2016; 37:333-354. [DOI: 10.3109/07388551.2016.1163321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Changsheng Wu
- Georgia Tech Manufacturing Institute, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Ben Wang
- Georgia Tech Manufacturing Institute, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
- School of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Chuck Zhang
- Georgia Tech Manufacturing Institute, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
- School of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Richard A. Wysk
- Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Yi-Wen Chen
- Institute of Clinical Medical Science, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan, ROC
- 3D Printing Medical Research Center, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan, ROC
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34
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Shin S, Seo J, Han H, Kang S, Kim H, Lee T. Bio-Inspired Extreme Wetting Surfaces for Biomedical Applications. MATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2016; 9:E116. [PMID: 28787916 PMCID: PMC5456462 DOI: 10.3390/ma9020116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2015] [Revised: 02/04/2016] [Accepted: 02/15/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Biological creatures with unique surface wettability have long served as a source of inspiration for scientists and engineers. More specifically, materials exhibiting extreme wetting properties, such as superhydrophilic and superhydrophobic surfaces, have attracted considerable attention because of their potential use in various applications, such as self-cleaning fabrics, anti-fog windows, anti-corrosive coatings, drag-reduction systems, and efficient water transportation. In particular, the engineering of surface wettability by manipulating chemical properties and structure opens emerging biomedical applications ranging from high-throughput cell culture platforms to biomedical devices. This review describes design and fabrication methods for artificial extreme wetting surfaces. Next, we introduce some of the newer and emerging biomedical applications using extreme wetting surfaces. Current challenges and future prospects of the surfaces for potential biomedical applications are also addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sera Shin
- Nanobio Device Laboratory, School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Yonsei University, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-Gu, Seoul 03722, Korea.
| | - Jungmok Seo
- Nanobio Device Laboratory, School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Yonsei University, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-Gu, Seoul 03722, Korea.
| | - Heetak Han
- Nanobio Device Laboratory, School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Yonsei University, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-Gu, Seoul 03722, Korea.
| | - Subin Kang
- Nanobio Device Laboratory, School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Yonsei University, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-Gu, Seoul 03722, Korea.
| | - Hyunchul Kim
- Nanobio Device Laboratory, School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Yonsei University, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-Gu, Seoul 03722, Korea.
| | - Taeyoon Lee
- Nanobio Device Laboratory, School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Yonsei University, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-Gu, Seoul 03722, Korea.
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35
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Chow EKH. JALA Special Issue: High-Throughput Imaging. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016; 21:234-7. [PMID: 26887980 DOI: 10.1177/2211068216629734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2016] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Edward Kai-Hua Chow
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
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36
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Birchler A, Berger M, Jäggin V, Lopes T, Etzrodt M, Misun PM, Pena-Francesch M, Schroeder T, Hierlemann A, Frey O. Seamless Combination of Fluorescence-Activated Cell Sorting and Hanging-Drop Networks for Individual Handling and Culturing of Stem Cells and Microtissue Spheroids. Anal Chem 2016; 88:1222-9. [PMID: 26694967 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.5b03513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Open microfluidic cell culturing devices offer new possibilities to simplify loading, culturing, and harvesting of individual cells or microtissues due to the fact that liquids and cells/microtissues are directly accessible. We present a complete workflow for microfluidic handling and culturing of individual cells and microtissue spheroids, which is based on the hanging-drop network concept: The open microfluidic devices are seamlessly combined with fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS), so that individual cells, including stem cells, can be directly sorted into specified culturing compartments in a fully automated way and at high accuracy. Moreover, already assembled microtissue spheroids can be loaded into the microfluidic structures by using a conventional pipet. Cell and microtissue culturing is then performed in hanging drops under controlled perfusion. On-chip drop size control measures were applied to stabilize the system. Cells and microtissue spheroids can be retrieved from the chip by using a parallelized transfer method. The presented methodology holds great promise for combinatorial screening of stem-cell and multicellular-spheroid cultures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Axel Birchler
- ETH Zurich , Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, Bio Engineering Laboratory, Mattenstrasse 26, CH-4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Mischa Berger
- ETH Zurich , Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, Bio Engineering Laboratory, Mattenstrasse 26, CH-4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Verena Jäggin
- ETH Zurich , Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, Single Cell Facility, Mattenstrasse 26, CH-4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Telma Lopes
- ETH Zurich , Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, Single Cell Facility, Mattenstrasse 26, CH-4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Martin Etzrodt
- ETH Zurich , Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, Cell Systems Dynamics Group, Mattenstrasse 26, CH-4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Patrick Mark Misun
- ETH Zurich , Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, Bio Engineering Laboratory, Mattenstrasse 26, CH-4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Maria Pena-Francesch
- ETH Zurich , Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, Bio Engineering Laboratory, Mattenstrasse 26, CH-4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Timm Schroeder
- ETH Zurich , Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, Cell Systems Dynamics Group, Mattenstrasse 26, CH-4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Andreas Hierlemann
- ETH Zurich , Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, Bio Engineering Laboratory, Mattenstrasse 26, CH-4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Olivier Frey
- ETH Zurich , Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, Bio Engineering Laboratory, Mattenstrasse 26, CH-4058 Basel, Switzerland
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37
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Joshi P, Lee MY. High Content Imaging (HCI) on Miniaturized Three-Dimensional (3D) Cell Cultures. BIOSENSORS 2015; 5:768-90. [PMID: 26694477 PMCID: PMC4697144 DOI: 10.3390/bios5040768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2015] [Revised: 12/09/2015] [Accepted: 12/10/2015] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
High content imaging (HCI) is a multiplexed cell staining assay developed for better understanding of complex biological functions and mechanisms of drug action, and it has become an important tool for toxicity and efficacy screening of drug candidates. Conventional HCI assays have been carried out on two-dimensional (2D) cell monolayer cultures, which in turn limit predictability of drug toxicity/efficacy in vivo; thus, there has been an urgent need to perform HCI assays on three-dimensional (3D) cell cultures. Although 3D cell cultures better mimic in vivo microenvironments of human tissues and provide an in-depth understanding of the morphological and functional features of tissues, they are also limited by having relatively low throughput and thus are not amenable to high-throughput screening (HTS). One attempt of making 3D cell culture amenable for HTS is to utilize miniaturized cell culture platforms. This review aims to highlight miniaturized 3D cell culture platforms compatible with current HCI technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pranav Joshi
- Department of Chemical & Biomedical Engineering, Cleveland State University, 1960 East 24th Street Cleveland, Ohio, OH 44115-2214, USA.
| | - Moo-Yeal Lee
- Department of Chemical & Biomedical Engineering, Cleveland State University, 1960 East 24th Street Cleveland, Ohio, OH 44115-2214, USA.
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38
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Martinez NJ, Titus SA, Wagner AK, Simeonov A. High-throughput fluorescence imaging approaches for drug discovery using in vitro and in vivo three-dimensional models. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2015; 10:1347-61. [PMID: 26394277 DOI: 10.1517/17460441.2015.1091814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION High-resolution microscopy using fluorescent probes is a powerful tool to investigate individual cell structure and function, cell subpopulations and mechanisms underlying cellular responses to drugs. Additionally, responses to drugs more closely resemble those seen in vivo when cells are physically connected in three-dimensional (3D) systems (either 3D cell cultures or whole organisms), as opposed to traditional monolayer cultures. Combined, the use of imaging-based 3D models in the early stages of drug development has the potential to generate biologically relevant data that will increase the likelihood of success for drug candidates in human studies. AREAS COVERED The authors discuss current methods for the culturing of cells in 3D as well as approaches for the imaging of whole-animal models and 3D cultures that are amenable to high-throughput settings and could be implemented to support drug discovery campaigns. Furthermore, they provide critical considerations when discussing imaging these 3D systems for high-throughput chemical screenings. EXPERT OPINION Despite widespread understanding of the limitations imposed by the two-dimensional versus the 3D cellular paradigm, imaging-based drug screening of 3D cellular models is still limited, with only a few screens found in the literature. Image acquisition in high throughput, accurate interpretation of fluorescent signal, and uptake of staining reagents can be challenging, as the samples are in essence large aggregates of cells. The authors recognize these shortcomings that need to be overcome before the field can accelerate the utilization of these technologies in large-scale chemical screens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia J Martinez
- a National Institutes of Health, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences , Rockville, MD 20850, USA
| | - Steven A Titus
- a National Institutes of Health, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences , Rockville, MD 20850, USA
| | - Amanda K Wagner
- a National Institutes of Health, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences , Rockville, MD 20850, USA
| | - Anton Simeonov
- a National Institutes of Health, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences , Rockville, MD 20850, USA
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Lehmann R, Gallert C, Roddelkopf T, Junginger S, Thurow K. Biomek Cell Workstation: A Flexible System for Automated 3D Cell Cultivation. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2015. [PMID: 26203054 DOI: 10.1177/2211068215594580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
The shift from 2D cultures to 3D cultures enables improvement in cell culture research due to better mimicking of in vivo cell behavior and environmental conditions. Different cell lines and applications require altered 3D constructs. The automation of the manufacturing and screening processes can advance the charge stability, quality, repeatability, and precision. In this study we integrated the automated production of three 3D cell constructs (alginate beads, spheroid cultures, pellet cultures) using the Biomek Cell Workstation and compared them with the traditional manual methods and their consequent bioscreening processes (proliferation, toxicity; days 14 and 35) using a high-throughput screening system. Moreover, the possible influence of antibiotics (penicillin/streptomycin) on the production and screening processes was investigated. The cytotoxicity of automatically produced 3D cell cultures (with and without antibiotics) was mainly decreased. The proliferation showed mainly similar or increased results for the automatically produced 3D constructs. We concluded that the traditional manual methods can be replaced by the automated processes. Furthermore, the formation, cultivation, and screenings can be performed without antibiotics to prevent possible effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Lehmann
- Center for Life Science Automation (celisca), University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany
| | - C Gallert
- Center for Life Science Automation (celisca), University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany
| | - T Roddelkopf
- Center for Life Science Automation (celisca), University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany
| | - S Junginger
- Institute of Automation, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany
| | - K Thurow
- Center for Life Science Automation (celisca), University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany
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Ham SL, Atefi E, Fyffe D, Tavana H. Robotic production of cancer cell spheroids with an aqueous two-phase system for drug testing. J Vis Exp 2015:e52754. [PMID: 25939084 PMCID: PMC4541593 DOI: 10.3791/52754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer cell spheroids present a relevant in vitro model of avascular tumors for anti-cancer drug testing applications. A detailed protocol for producing both mono-culture and co-culture spheroids in a high throughput 96-well plate format is described in this work. This approach utilizes an aqueous two-phase system to confine cells into a drop of the denser aqueous phase immersed within the second aqueous phase. The drop rests on the well surface and keeps cells in close proximity to form a single spheroid. This technology has been adapted to a robotic liquid handler to produce size-controlled spheroids and expedite the process of spheroid production for compound screening applications. Spheroids treated with a clinically-used drug show reduced cell viability with increase in the drug dose. The use of a standard micro-well plate for spheroid generation makes it straightforward to analyze viability of cancer cells of drug-treated spheroids with a micro-plate reader. This technology is straightforward to implement both robotically and with other liquid handling tools such as manual pipettes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ehsan Atefi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Akron
| | - Darcy Fyffe
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Akron
| | - Hossein Tavana
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Akron;
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Lopa S, Piraino F, Kemp RJ, Di Caro C, Lovati AB, Di Giancamillo A, Moroni L, Peretti GM, Rasponi M, Moretti M. Fabrication of multi-well chips for spheroid cultures and implantable constructs through rapid prototyping techniques. Biotechnol Bioeng 2015; 112:1457-71. [PMID: 25678107 DOI: 10.1002/bit.25557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2014] [Revised: 01/23/2015] [Accepted: 01/26/2015] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Three-dimensional (3D) culture models are widely used in basic and translational research. In this study, to generate and culture multiple 3D cell spheroids, we exploited laser ablation and replica molding for the fabrication of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) multi-well chips, which were validated using articular chondrocytes (ACs). Multi-well ACs spheroids were comparable or superior to standard spheroids, as revealed by glycosaminoglycan and type-II collagen deposition. Moreover, the use of our multi-well chips significantly reduced the operation time for cell seeding and medium refresh. Exploiting a similar approach, we used clinical-grade fibrin to generate implantable multi-well constructs allowing for the precise distribution of multiple cell types. Multi-well fibrin constructs were seeded with ACs generating high cell density regions, as shown by histology and cell fluorescent staining. Multi-well constructs were compared to standard constructs with homogeneously distributed ACs. After 7 days in vitro, expression of SOX9, ACAN, COL2A1, and COMP was increased in both constructs, with multi-well constructs expressing significantly higher levels of chondrogenic genes than standard constructs. After 5 weeks in vivo, we found that despite a dramatic size reduction, the cell distribution pattern was maintained and glycosaminoglycan content per wet weight was significantly increased respect to pre-implantation samples. In conclusion, multi-well chips for the generation and culture of multiple cell spheroids can be fabricated by low-cost rapid prototyping techniques. Furthermore, these techniques can be used to generate implantable constructs with defined architecture and controlled cell distribution, allowing for in vitro and in vivo investigation of cell interactions in a 3D environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Lopa
- Cell and Tissue Engineering Laboratory, IRCCS Galeazzi Orthopaedic Institute, Via R. Galeazzi 4, 20161, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesco Piraino
- Department of Electronics, Information, and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, 20133, Italy
| | - Raymond J Kemp
- Tissue Regeneration Department, University of Twente, 7522 NB, Enschede, The Netherlands
| | - Clelia Di Caro
- Department of Electronics, Information, and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, 20133, Italy
| | - Arianna B Lovati
- Cell and Tissue Engineering Laboratory, IRCCS Galeazzi Orthopaedic Institute, Via R. Galeazzi 4, 20161, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Lorenzo Moroni
- Tissue Regeneration Department, University of Twente, 7522 NB, Enschede, The Netherlands
- Department of Complex Tissue Regeneration, Maastricht University, 6200 MD, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Giuseppe M Peretti
- IRCCS Galeazzi Orthopaedic Institute, Milan, 20161, Italy
- Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, 20161, Italy
| | - Marco Rasponi
- Department of Electronics, Information, and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, 20133, Italy
| | - Matteo Moretti
- Cell and Tissue Engineering Laboratory, IRCCS Galeazzi Orthopaedic Institute, Via R. Galeazzi 4, 20161, Milan, Italy.
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Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) have been identified in a growing list of malignancies and are believed to be responsible for cancer initiation, metastasis and relapse following certain therapies, even though they may only represent a small fraction of the cells in a given cancer. Like somatic stem cells and embryonic stem cells, CSCs are capable of self-renewal and differentiation into more mature, less tumorigenic cells that make up the bulk populations of cancer cells. Elimination of CSCs promises intriguing therapeutic potential and this concept has been adopted in preclinical drug discovery programs. Herein we will discuss the progress of these efforts, general considerations in practice, major challenges and possible solutions.
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Reconfigurable microfluidic hanging drop network for multi-tissue interaction and analysis. Nat Commun 2014; 5:4250. [PMID: 24977495 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms5250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 261] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2014] [Accepted: 05/28/2014] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Integration of multiple three-dimensional microtissues into microfluidic networks enables new insights in how different organs or tissues of an organism interact. Here, we present a platform that extends the hanging-drop technology, used for multi-cellular spheroid formation, to multifunctional complex microfluidic networks. Engineered as completely open, 'hanging' microfluidic system at the bottom of a substrate, the platform features high flexibility in microtissue arrangements and interconnections, while fabrication is simple and operation robust. Multiple spheroids of different cell types are formed in parallel on the same platform; the different tissues are then connected in physiological order for multi-tissue experiments through reconfiguration of the fluidic network. Liquid flow is precisely controlled through the hanging drops, which enable nutrient supply, substance dosage and inter-organ metabolic communication. The possibility to perform parallelized microtissue formation on the same chip that is subsequently used for complex multi-tissue experiments renders the developed platform a promising technology for 'body-on-a-chip'-related research.
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Liu T, Chien CC, Parkinson L, Thierry B. Advanced micromachining of concave microwells for long term on-chip culture of multicellular tumor spheroids. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2014; 6:8090-7. [PMID: 24773458 DOI: 10.1021/am500367h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
A novel approach based on advanced micromachining is demonstrated to fabricate concave microwell arrays for the formation of high quality multicellular tumor spheroids. Microfabricated molds were prepared using a state-of-the-art CNC machining center, containing arrays of 3D convex micropillars with size ranging from 150 μm to 600 μm. Microscopic imaging of the micropillars machined on the mold showed smooth, curved microfeatures of a dramatic 3D shape. Agarose microwells could be easily replicated from the metallic molds. EMT-6 tumor cells seeded in the primary macrowell sedimented efficiently to the bottom of the concave microwells and formed multicellular spheroids within 48 h. Dense and homogeneous multicellular spheroids were obtained after 10 days of culture, confirming the suitability of the proposed approach. To facilitate long term spheroid culture and reliable on-chip drug assay, polydimethylsiloxane microwells were also replicated from the metallic molds. A solvent swelling method was adapted and optimized to Pluronic F127 towards physically entrapping the block copolymer molecules within the polydimethylsiloxane network and in turn to improve long term cell-binding resistance. Homogeneous multicellular spheroids were efficiently formed in the concave microwells and on-chip drug assays could be reliably carried out using curcumin as a model anti-cancer drug. Advanced micromachining provides an excellent technological solution to the fabrication of high quality concave microwells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianqing Liu
- Ian Wark Research Institute, University of South Australia , Mawson Lakes Campus, Mawson Lakes, Adelaide, SA 5095, Australia
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