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Kim S, Lam PY, Jayaraman A, Han A. Uniform sized cancer spheroids production using hydrogel-based droplet microfluidics: a review. Biomed Microdevices 2024; 26:26. [PMID: 38806765 PMCID: PMC11241584 DOI: 10.1007/s10544-024-00712-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024]
Abstract
Three-dimensional (3D) cell culture models have been extensively utilized in various mechanistic studies as well as for drug development studies as superior in vitro platforms than conventional two-dimensional (2D) cell culture models. This is especially the case in cancer biology, where 3D cancer models, such as spheroids or organoids, have been utilized extensively to understand the mechanisms of cancer development. Recently, many sophisticated 3D models such as organ-on-a-chip models are emerging as advanced in vitro models that can more accurately mimic the in vivo tissue functions. Despite such advancements, spheroids are still considered as a powerful 3D cancer model due to the relatively simple structure and compatibility with existing laboratory instruments, and also can provide orders of magnitude higher throughput than complex in vitro models, an extremely important aspects for drug development. However, creating well-defined spheroids remain challenging, both in terms of throughputs in generation as well as reproducibility in size and shape that can make it challenging for drug testing applications. In the past decades, droplet microfluidics utilizing hydrogels have been highlighted due to their potentials. Importantly, core-shell structured gel droplets can avoid spheroid-to-spheroid adhesion that can cause large variations in assays while also enabling long-term cultivation of spheroids with higher uniformity by protecting the core organoid area from external environment while the outer porous gel layer still allows nutrient exchange. Hence, core-shell gel droplet-based spheroid formation can improve the predictivity and reproducibility of drug screening assays. This review paper will focus on droplet microfluidics-based technologies for cancer spheroid production using various gel materials and structures. In addition, we will discuss emerging technologies that have the potential to advance the production of spheroids, prospects of such technologies, and remaining challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sungjin Kim
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Po Yi Lam
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Arul Jayaraman
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Arum Han
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.
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Eş I, Ionescu AMT, Görmüş BM, Inci F, Marques MPC, Szita N, de la Torre LG. Monte Carlo simulation-guided design for size-tuned tumor spheroid formation in 3D printed microwells. Biotechnol Prog 2024:e3470. [PMID: 38613384 DOI: 10.1002/btpr.3470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Revised: 02/10/2024] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024]
Abstract
Tumor spheroid models have garnered significant attention in recent years as they can efficiently mimic in vivo models, and in addition, they offer a more controlled and reproducible environment for evaluating the efficacy of cancer drugs. In this study, we present the design and fabrication of a micromold template to form multicellular spheroids in a high-throughput and controlled-sized fashion. Briefly, polydimethylsiloxane-based micromolds at varying sizes and geometry were fabricated via soft lithography using 3D-printed molds as negative templates. The efficiency of spheroid formation was assessed using GFP-expressing human embryonic kidney 293 cells (HEK-293). After 7 days of culturing, circularity and cell viability of spheroids were >0.8 and 90%, respectively. At 1500 cells/microwell of cell seeding concentration, the spheroids were 454 ± 15 μm, 459 ± 7 μm, and 451 ± 18 μm when cultured in microwells with the diameters of 0.4, 0.6, and 0.8 μm, respectively. Moreover, the distance between each microwell and surfactant treatment before cell seeding notably impacted the uniform spheroid formation. The centrifugation was the key step to collect cells on the bottom of the microwells. Our findings were further verified using a commercial microplate. Furthermore, Monte Carlo simulation confirmed the seeding conditions where the spheroids could be formed. This study showed prominent steps in investigating spheroid formation, thereby leveraging the current know-how on the mechanism of tumor growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ismail Eş
- Department of Biochemical Engineering, University College London, London, UK
- Department of Material and Bioprocess Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), São Paulo, Brazil
- UNAM-National Nanotechnology Research Center, Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey
| | | | - Burak M Görmüş
- UNAM-National Nanotechnology Research Center, Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Fatih Inci
- UNAM-National Nanotechnology Research Center, Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey
- Institute of Materials Science and Nanotechnology, Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Marco P C Marques
- Department of Biochemical Engineering, University College London, London, UK
| | - Nicolas Szita
- Department of Biochemical Engineering, University College London, London, UK
| | - Lucimara Gaziola de la Torre
- Department of Material and Bioprocess Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), São Paulo, Brazil
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Pixelated Microfluidics for Drug Screening on Tumour Spheroids and Ex Vivo Microdissected Tumour Explants. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15041060. [PMID: 36831403 PMCID: PMC9954565 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15041060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Revised: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Anticancer drugs have the lowest success rate of approval in drug development programs. Thus, preclinical assays that closely predict the clinical responses to drugs are of utmost importance in both clinical oncology and pharmaceutical research. 3D tumour models preserve the tumoral architecture and are cost- and time-efficient. However, the short-term longevity, limited throughput, and limitations of live imaging of these models have so far driven researchers towards less realistic tumour models such as monolayer cell cultures. Here, we present an open-space microfluidic drug screening platform that enables the formation, culture, and multiplexed delivery of several reagents to various 3D tumour models, namely cancer cell line spheroids and ex vivo primary tumour fragments. Our platform utilizes a microfluidic pixelated chemical display that creates isolated adjacent flow sub-units of reagents, which we refer to as fluidic 'pixels', over tumour models in a contact-free fashion. Up to nine different treatment conditions can be tested over 144 samples in a single experiment. We provide a proof-of-concept application by staining fixed and live tumour models with multiple cellular dyes. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the response of the tumour models to biological stimuli can be assessed using the platform. Upscaling the microfluidic platform to larger areas can lead to higher throughputs, and thus will have a significant impact on developing treatments for cancer.
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Lee J, Park BC, Jang NY, Lee S, Cho YK, Sharma P, Byun SW, Jeon K, Jeon Y, Park U, Ro HJ, Park HR, Kim Y, Lee D, Chung S, Kim YK, Cho N. Inducing Ectopic T Cell Clusters Using Stromal Vascular Fraction Spheroid-Based Immunotherapy to Enhance Anti-Tumor Immunity. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2022; 9:e2203842. [PMID: 36058002 PMCID: PMC9534947 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202203842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2022] [Revised: 08/21/2022] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs) provide specialized niches for immune cells, resulting in improved prognoses for patients undergoing cancer immunotherapy. Shaping TLS-like niches may improve anti-cancer immunity and overcome the current limitations of immune cell-based immunotherapy. Here, it is shown that stromal vascular fraction (SVF) from adipose tissues can enhance dendritic cell (DC)-mediated T cell immunity by inducing ectopic T lymphocyte clusters. SVF cells expanded ex vivo have phenotypes and functions similar to those of fibroblastic reticular cells in a secondary lymphoid organ, and their properties can be modulated using three-dimensional spheroid culture and coculture with DCs spiked with antigen-loaded iron oxide-zinc oxide core-shell nanoparticles. Thereby, the combination of SVF spheroids and mature DCs significantly augments T cell recruitment and retention at the injection site. This strategy elicits enhanced antigen-specific immune response and anti-tumoral immunity in mice, illustrating the potential for a novel immunotherapeutic design using SVF as a structural scaffold for TLS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jae‐Won Lee
- Department of Biomedical SciencesSeoul National University College of MedicineSeoul03080Korea
- Department of Microbiology and ImmunologySeoul National University College of MedicineSeoul03080Korea
- Institute of Endemic DiseasesCollege of MedicineSeoul National UniversitySeoul03080Korea
| | - Bum Chul Park
- Department of Materials Science and EngineeringKorea UniversitySeoul02481Korea
- Brain Korea Center for Smart Materials and DevicesKorea UniversitySeoul02841Korea
| | - Na Yoon Jang
- Department of Biomedical SciencesSeoul National University College of MedicineSeoul03080Korea
- Department of Microbiology and ImmunologySeoul National University College of MedicineSeoul03080Korea
| | - Sihyeon Lee
- Department of Biomedical SciencesSeoul National University College of MedicineSeoul03080Korea
- Department of Microbiology and ImmunologySeoul National University College of MedicineSeoul03080Korea
| | - Young Kyu Cho
- School of Mechanical EngineeringKorea UniversitySeoul02841Republic of Korea
| | - Prashant Sharma
- Department of Biomedical SciencesSeoul National University College of MedicineSeoul03080Korea
- Department of Microbiology and ImmunologySeoul National University College of MedicineSeoul03080Korea
| | - Sang Won Byun
- Department of Materials Science and EngineeringKorea UniversitySeoul02481Korea
| | - Kyeongseok Jeon
- Department of Biomedical SciencesSeoul National University College of MedicineSeoul03080Korea
- Department of Microbiology and ImmunologySeoul National University College of MedicineSeoul03080Korea
| | - Yun‐Hui Jeon
- Department of Biomedical SciencesSeoul National University College of MedicineSeoul03080Korea
| | - Uni Park
- Department of Biomedical SciencesSeoul National University College of MedicineSeoul03080Korea
- Department of Microbiology and ImmunologySeoul National University College of MedicineSeoul03080Korea
| | - Hyo Jin Ro
- Department of Biomedical SciencesSeoul National University College of MedicineSeoul03080Korea
- Department of Microbiology and ImmunologySeoul National University College of MedicineSeoul03080Korea
| | - Hyo Ree Park
- Department of Biomedical SciencesSeoul National University College of MedicineSeoul03080Korea
- Department of Microbiology and ImmunologySeoul National University College of MedicineSeoul03080Korea
| | - Yuri Kim
- Department of Biomedical SciencesSeoul National University College of MedicineSeoul03080Korea
- Department of Microbiology and ImmunologySeoul National University College of MedicineSeoul03080Korea
- Institute of Endemic DiseasesCollege of MedicineSeoul National UniversitySeoul03080Korea
| | - Dong‐Sup Lee
- Department of Biomedical SciencesSeoul National University College of MedicineSeoul03080Korea
| | - Seok Chung
- School of Mechanical EngineeringKorea UniversitySeoul02841Republic of Korea
| | - Young Keun Kim
- Department of Materials Science and EngineeringKorea UniversitySeoul02481Korea
- Brain Korea Center for Smart Materials and DevicesKorea UniversitySeoul02841Korea
| | - Nam‐Hyuk Cho
- Department of Biomedical SciencesSeoul National University College of MedicineSeoul03080Korea
- Department of Microbiology and ImmunologySeoul National University College of MedicineSeoul03080Korea
- Institute of Endemic DiseasesCollege of MedicineSeoul National UniversitySeoul03080Korea
- Seoul National University Bundang HospitalSeongnam‐siGyeonggi‐do13620Republic of Korea
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From Spheroids to Organoids: The Next Generation of Model Systems of Human Cardiac Regeneration in a Dish. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222413180. [PMID: 34947977 PMCID: PMC8708686 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222413180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Revised: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 12/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Organoids are tiny, self-organized, three-dimensional tissue cultures that are derived from the differentiation of stem cells. The growing interest in the use of organoids arises from their ability to mimic the biology and physiology of specific tissue structures in vitro. Organoids indeed represent promising systems for the in vitro modeling of tissue morphogenesis and organogenesis, regenerative medicine and tissue engineering, drug therapy testing, toxicology screening, and disease modeling. Although 2D cell cultures have been used for more than 50 years, even for their simplicity and low-cost maintenance, recent years have witnessed a steep rise in the availability of organoid model systems. Exploiting the ability of cells to re-aggregate and reconstruct the original architecture of an organ makes it possible to overcome many limitations of 2D cell culture systems. In vitro replication of the cellular micro-environment of a specific tissue leads to reproducing the molecular, biochemical, and biomechanical mechanisms that directly influence cell behavior and fate within that specific tissue. Lineage-specific self-organizing organoids have now been generated for many organs. Currently, growing cardiac organoid (cardioids) from pluripotent stem cells and cardiac stem/progenitor cells remains an open challenge due to the complexity of the spreading, differentiation, and migration of cardiac muscle and vascular layers. Here, we summarize the evolution of biological model systems from the generation of 2D spheroids to 3D organoids by focusing on the generation of cardioids based on the currently available laboratory technologies and outline their high potential for cardiovascular research.
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Bang S, Hwang KS, Jeong S, Cho IJ, Choi N, Kim J, Kim HN. Engineered neural circuits for modeling brain physiology and neuropathology. Acta Biomater 2021; 132:379-400. [PMID: 34157452 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2021.06.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Revised: 05/16/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The neural circuits of the central nervous system are the regulatory pathways for feeling, motion control, learning, and memory, and their dysfunction is closely related to various neurodegenerative diseases. Despite the growing demand for the unraveling of the physiology and functional connectivity of the neural circuits, their fundamental investigation is hampered because of the inability to access the components of neural circuits and the complex microenvironment. As an alternative approach, in vitro human neural circuits show principles of in vivo human neuronal circuit function. They allow access to the cellular compartment and permit real-time monitoring of neural circuits. In this review, we summarize recent advances in reconstituted in vitro neural circuits using engineering techniques. To this end, we provide an overview of the fabrication techniques and methods for stimulation and measurement of in vitro neural circuits. Subsequently, representative examples of in vitro neural circuits are reviewed with a particular focus on the recapitulation of structures and functions observed in vivo, and we summarize their application in the study of various brain diseases. We believe that the in vitro neural circuits can help neuroscience and the neuropharmacology. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Despite the growing demand to unravel the physiology and functional connectivity of the neural circuits, the studies on the in vivo neural circuits are frequently limited due to the poor accessibility. Furthermore, single neuron-based analysis has an inherent limitation in that it does not reflect the full spectrum of the neural circuit physiology. As an alternative approach, in vitro engineered neural circuit models have arisen because they can recapitulate the structural and functional characteristics of in vivo neural circuits. These in vitro neural circuits allow the mimicking of dysregulation of the neural circuits, including neurodegenerative diseases and traumatic brain injury. Emerging in vitro engineered neural circuits will provide a better understanding of the (patho-)physiology of neural circuits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seokyoung Bang
- Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyeong Seob Hwang
- Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea; School of Mechanical Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Sohyeon Jeong
- Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea; Division of Bio-Medical Science & Technology, KIST School, Korea University of Science and Technology (UST), Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea
| | - Il-Joo Cho
- Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea; Division of Bio-Medical Science & Technology, KIST School, Korea University of Science and Technology (UST), Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea; School of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea; Yonsei-KIST Convergence Research Institute, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Nakwon Choi
- Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea; Division of Bio-Medical Science & Technology, KIST School, Korea University of Science and Technology (UST), Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea; KU-KIST Graduate School of Converging Science and Technology, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea.
| | - Jongbaeg Kim
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea.
| | - Hong Nam Kim
- Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea; Division of Bio-Medical Science & Technology, KIST School, Korea University of Science and Technology (UST), Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea.
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Kim JW, Yi J, Park J, Jeong JH, Kim J, Won J, Chung S, Kim TS, Pak JH. Transcriptomic profiling of three-dimensional cholangiocyte spheroids long term exposed to repetitive Clonorchis sinensis excretory-secretory products. Parasit Vectors 2021; 14:213. [PMID: 33879231 PMCID: PMC8056535 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-021-04717-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2021] [Accepted: 04/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Biliary tract infection with the carcinogenic human liver fluke, Clonorchis sinensis, provokes chronic inflammation, epithelial hyperplasia, periductal fibrosis, and even cholangiocarcinoma. Complications are proportional to the intensity and duration of the infection. In addition to mechanical irritation of the biliary epithelia from worms, their excretory-secretory products (ESPs) cause chemical irritation, which leads to inflammation, proliferation, and free radical generation. Methods A three-dimensional in vitro cholangiocyte spheroid culture model was established, followed by ESP treatment. This allowed us to examine the intrinsic pathological mechanisms of clonorchiasis via the imitation of prolonged and repetitive in vivo infection. Results Microarray and RNA-Seq analysis revealed that ESP-treated cholangiocyte H69 spheroids displayed global changes in gene expression compared to untreated spheroids. In ESP-treated H69 spheroids, 185 and 63 probes were found to be significantly upregulated and downregulated, respectively, corresponding to 209 genes (p < 0.01, fold change > 2). RNA-Seq was performed for the validation of the microarray results, and the gene expression patterns in both transcriptome platforms were well matched for 209 significant genes. Gene ontology analysis demonstrated that differentially expressed genes were mainly classified into immune system processes, the extracellular region, and the extracellular matrix. Among the upregulated genes, four genes (XAF1, TRIM22, CXCL10, and BST2) were selected for confirmation using quantitative RT-PCR, resulting in 100% similar expression patterns in microarray and RNA-Seq. Conclusions These findings broaden our understanding of the pathological pathways of liver fluke-associated hepatobiliary disorders and suggest a novel therapeutic strategy for this infectious cancer. Graphic abstract ![]()
Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13071-021-04717-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jung-Woong Kim
- Department of Life Science, College of Natural Sciences, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, 06974, Republic of Korea
| | - Junyeong Yi
- Department of Convergence Medicine, University of Ulsan College of Medicine and Asan Institute for Life Sciences, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, 05505, Republic of Korea
| | - Jinhong Park
- Department of Life Science, College of Natural Sciences, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, 06974, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji Hoon Jeong
- Department of Convergence Medicine, University of Ulsan College of Medicine and Asan Institute for Life Sciences, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, 05505, Republic of Korea
| | - Jinho Kim
- Department of Life Science, College of Natural Sciences, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, 06974, Republic of Korea
| | - Jihee Won
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Seok Chung
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Tong-Soo Kim
- Department of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, Inha University School of Medicine, Incheon, 22212, Republic of Korea
| | - Jhang Ho Pak
- Department of Convergence Medicine, University of Ulsan College of Medicine and Asan Institute for Life Sciences, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, 05505, Republic of Korea.
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Decarli MC, do Amaral RLF, Dos Santos DP, Tofani LB, Katayama E, Rezende RA, Silva JVLD, Swiech K, Suazo CAT, Mota C, Moroni L, Moraes ÂM. Cell spheroids as a versatile research platform: formation mechanisms, high throughput production, characterization and applications. Biofabrication 2021; 13. [PMID: 33592595 DOI: 10.1088/1758-5090/abe6f2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2020] [Accepted: 02/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Three-dimensional cell culture has tremendous advantages to closely mimic the in vivo architecture and microenvironment of healthy tissue and organs, as well as of solid tumors. Spheroids are currently the most attractive 3D model to produce uniform reproducible cell structures as well as a potential basis for engineering large tissues and complex organs. In this review we discuss, from an engineering perspective, processes to obtain uniform 3D cell spheroids, comparing dynamic and static cultures and considering aspects such as mass transfer and shear stress. In addition, computational and mathematical modelling of complex cell spheroid systems are discussed. The non-cell-adhesive hydrogel-based method and dynamic cell culture in bioreactors are focused in detail and the myriad of developed spheroid characterization techniques is presented. The main bottlenecks and weaknesses are discussed, especially regarding the analysis of morphological parameters, cell quantification and viability, gene expression profiles, metabolic behavior and high-content analysis. Finally, a vast set of applications of spheroids as tools for in vitro study model systems is examined, including drug screening, tissue formation, pathologies development, tissue engineering and biofabrication, 3D bioprinting and microfluidics, together with their use in high-throughput platforms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monize Caiado Decarli
- School of Chemical Engineering/Department of Engineering of Materials and of Bioprocesses, University of Campinas, Av. Albert Einstein, 500 - Bloco A - Cidade Universitária Zeferino Vaz, Cidade Universitária Zeferino Vaz, Campinas, SP, 13083-852, BRAZIL
| | - Robson Luis Ferraz do Amaral
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto/Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Avenida do Café, no number, Ribeirão Preto, SP, 14040-903, BRAZIL
| | - Diogo Peres Dos Santos
- Departament of Chemical Engineering, Federal University of São Carlos, Rod. Washington Luiz (SP-310), km 235, São Carlos, SP, 13565-905, BRAZIL
| | - Larissa Bueno Tofani
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto/Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Avenida do Café, no number, Ribeirão Preto, SP, 14040-903, BRAZIL
| | - Eric Katayama
- Departament of Chemical Engineering, Federal University of São Carlos, Rod. Washington Luiz (SP-310), km 235, São Carlos, SP, 13565-905, BRAZIL
| | - Rodrigo Alvarenga Rezende
- Centro de Tecnologia da Informacao Renato Archer, Rod. Dom Pedro I (SP-65), km 143,6 - Amarais, Campinas, SP, 13069-901, BRAZIL
| | - Jorge Vicente Lopes da Silva
- Centro de Tecnologia da Informacao Renato Archer, Rod. Dom Pedro I (SP-65), km 143,6 - Amarais, Campinas, SP, 13069-901, BRAZIL
| | - Kamilla Swiech
- University of Sao Paulo, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto/Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ribeirao Preto, SP, 14040-903, BRAZIL
| | - Cláudio Alberto Torres Suazo
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Federal University of São Carlos, Rod. Washington Luiz (SP-310), km 235, São Carlos, SP, 13565-905, BRAZIL
| | - Carlos Mota
- Department of Complex Tissue Regeneration (CTR), University of Maastricht , Universiteitssingel, 40, office 3.541A, Maastricht, 6229 ER, NETHERLANDS
| | - Lorenzo Moroni
- Complex Tissue Regeneration, Maastricht University, Universiteitsingel, 40, Maastricht, 6229ER, NETHERLANDS
| | - Ângela Maria Moraes
- School of Chemical Engineering/Department of Engineering of Materials and of Bioprocesses, University of Campinas, Av. Albert Einstein, 500 - Bloco A - Cidade Universitária Zeferino Vaz, Campinas, SP, 13083-852, BRAZIL
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Kim IG, Cho H, Shin J, Cho JH, Cho SW, Chung EJ. Regeneration of irradiation-damaged esophagus by local delivery of mesenchymal stem-cell spheroids encapsulated in a hyaluronic-acid-based hydrogel. Biomater Sci 2021; 9:2197-2208. [PMID: 33506817 DOI: 10.1039/d0bm01655a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Radiation therapy (RT) is a typical treatment for head and neck cancers. Generally, prolonged irradiation of the esophagus causes esophageal fibrosis due to increased reactive oxygen species and proinflammatory cytokines. This study was designed to determine whether catechol-functionalized hyaluronic acid (HA-CA) hydrogel-encapsulated human mesenchymal stem-cell spheroids (MSC-SPs) could ameliorate damage to the esophagus in a mouse model of radiation-induced esophageal fibrosis. MSC-SPs were cultured in concave microwells 600 μm in diameter at a cell density of 1 × 106 cells per mL. Most cells formed spheroids with a 100-300 μm size distribution in concave microwells. MSC-SPs were well maintained in the HA gel, and live-dead staining confirmed that most cells survived. The HA gel containing the MSC-SPs was then injected into the damaged esophageal layer. Inflammatory signs or adverse tissue reactions were not observed after esophageal injection of HA-gel-encapsulated MSC-SPs. Based on Masson's trichrome staining at 4 and 12 weeks postinjection, the inner esophageal layer (IEL) was significantly thinner in the MSC-SP + HA gel group compared to those in the other experimental groups. While the saline and HA gel treatments made the esophageal muscles loose and thick, the MSC-SP + HA gel group showed bundles of tightly packed esophageal muscles, as assayed by desmin immunostaining. qPCR analysis showed that epithelial genes tended to increase over time in the MSC-SP + HA gel group, and the expression of most fibrosis-related genes decreased. This study proposes the potential of using HA-CA-hydrogel-encapsulated MSC-SPs as a promising therapy against radiation-induced esophageal fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- In Gul Kim
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
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Behroodi E, Latifi H, Bagheri Z, Ermis E, Roshani S, Salehi Moghaddam M. A combined 3D printing/CNC micro-milling method to fabricate a large-scale microfluidic device with the small size 3D architectures: an application for tumor spheroid production. Sci Rep 2020; 10:22171. [PMID: 33335148 PMCID: PMC7747638 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-79015-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2020] [Accepted: 12/02/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The fabrication of a large-scale microfluidic mold with 3D microstructures for manufacturing of the conical microwell chip using a combined projection micro-stereolithography (PµSL) 3D printing/CNC micro-milling method for tumor spheroid formation is presented. The PµSL technique is known as the most promising method of manufacturing microfluidic chips due to the possibility of creating complex three-dimensional microstructures with high resolution in the range of several micrometers. The purpose of applying the proposed method is to investigate the influence of microwell depths on the formation of tumor spheroids. In the conventional methods, the construction of three-dimensional microstructures and multi-height chips is difficult, time-consuming, and is performed using a multi-step lithography process. Microwell depth is an essential parameter for microwell design since it directly affects the shear stress of the fluid flow and the diffusion of nutrients, respiratory gases, and growth factors. In this study, a chip was made with microwells of different depth varying from 100 to 500 µm. The mold of the microwell section is printed by the lab-made PµSL printer with 6 and 1 µm lateral and vertical resolutions. Other parts of the mold, such as the main chamber and micro-channels, were manufactured using the CNC micro-milling method. Finally, different parts of the master mold were assembled and used for PDMS casting. The proposed technique drastically simplifies the fabrication and rapid prototyping of large-scale microfluidic devices with high-resolution microstructures by combining 3D printing with the CNC micro-milling method.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ebrahim Behroodi
- Laser and Plasma Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University, 1983963113, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hamid Latifi
- Laser and Plasma Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University, 1983963113, Tehran, Iran. .,Department of Physics, Shahid Beheshti University, 1983963113, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Zeinab Bagheri
- Faculty of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shahid Beheshti University, 1983963113, Tehran, Iran
| | - Esra Ermis
- Faculty of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shahid Beheshti University, 1983963113, Tehran, Iran
| | - Shabnam Roshani
- Faculty of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shahid Beheshti University, 1983963113, Tehran, Iran
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11
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Liu D, Chen S, Win Naing M. A review of manufacturing capabilities of cell spheroid generation technologies and future development. Biotechnol Bioeng 2020; 118:542-554. [PMID: 33146407 DOI: 10.1002/bit.27620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2020] [Revised: 08/07/2020] [Accepted: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Spheroid culture provides cells with a three-dimensional environment that can better mimic physiological conditions compared to monolayer culture. Technologies involved in the generation of cell spheroids are continuously being innovated to produce spheroids with enhanced properties. In this paper, we review the manufacturing capabilities of current cell spheroid generation technologies. We propose that spheroid generation technologies should enable tight and robust process controls to produce spheroids of consistent and repeatable quality. Future technology development for the generation of cell spheroids should look into improvement in process control, standardization, scalability and monitoring, in addition to advanced methods of spheroid transfer and characterization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Liu
- Bioprocessing Technology Institute, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Sixun Chen
- Bioprocessing Technology Institute, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore, Singapore
| | - May Win Naing
- Bioprocessing Technology Institute, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore, Singapore.,Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore, Singapore
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12
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Chen YW, Chen MC, Wu KW, Tu TY. A Facile Approach for Rapid Prototyping of Microneedle Molds, Microwells and Micro-Through-Holes in Various Substrate Materials Using CO 2 Laser Drilling. Biomedicines 2020; 8:biomedicines8100427. [PMID: 33081055 PMCID: PMC7603185 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines8100427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2020] [Accepted: 10/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
CO2 laser manufacturing has served as an enabling and reliable tool for rapid and cost-effective microfabrication over the past few decades. While a wide range of industrial and biological applications have been studied, the choice of materials fabricated across various laser parameters and systems is often confounded by their complex combinations. We herein presented a unified procedure performed using percussion CO2 laser drilling with a range of laser parameters, substrate materials and various generated microstructures, enabling a variety of downstream tissue/cellular-based applications. Emphasis is placed on delineating the laser drilling effect on different biocompatible materials and proof-of-concept utilities. First, a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microneedle (MN) array mold is fabricated to generate dissolvable polyvinylpyrrolidone/polyvinyl alcohol (PVP/PVA) MNs for transdermal drug delivery. Second, polystyrene (PS) microwells are optimized in a compact array for the formation of size-controlled multicellular tumor spheroids (MCTSs). Third, coverglass is perforated to form a microaperture that can be used to trap/position cells/spheroids. Fourth, the creation of through-holes in PS is validated as an accessible method to create channels that facilitate medium exchange in hanging drop arrays and as a conducive tool for the growth and drug screenings of MCTSs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Wei Chen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70101, Taiwan; (Y.-W.C.); (K.-W.W.)
| | - Mei-Chin Chen
- Department of Chemical Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70101, Taiwan;
| | - Kuang-Wei Wu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70101, Taiwan; (Y.-W.C.); (K.-W.W.)
| | - Ting-Yuan Tu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70101, Taiwan; (Y.-W.C.); (K.-W.W.)
- Medical Device Innovation Center, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70101, Taiwan
- International Center for Wound Repair and Regeneration, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70101, Taiwan
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +886-966-570-573
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13
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Santorelli M, Lam C, Morsut L. Synthetic development: building mammalian multicellular structures with artificial genetic programs. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2019; 59:130-140. [PMID: 31128430 PMCID: PMC6778502 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2019.03.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2018] [Revised: 03/08/2019] [Accepted: 03/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Synthetic biology efforts began in simple single-cell systems, which were relatively easy to manipulate genetically (Cameron et al., 2014). The field grew exponentially in the last two decades, and one of the latest frontiers are synthetic developmental programs for multicellular mammalian systems (Black et al., 2017; Wieland and Fussenegger, 2012) to genetically control features such as patterning or morphogenesis. These programs rely on engineered cell-cell communications, multicellular gene regulatory networks and effector genes. Here, we contextualize the first of these synthetic developmental programs, examine molecular and computational tools that can be used to generate next generation versions, and present the general logic that underpins these approaches. These advances are exciting as they represent a novel way to address both control and understanding in the field of developmental biology and tissue development (Elowitz and Lim, 2010; Velazquez et al., 2018; White et al., 2018; Morsut, 2017). This field is just at the beginning, and it promises to be of major interest in the upcoming years of biomedical research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Santorelli
- The Eli and Edythe Broad CIRM Center, Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, United States
| | - Calvin Lam
- The Eli and Edythe Broad CIRM Center, Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, United States
| | - Leonardo Morsut
- The Eli and Edythe Broad CIRM Center, Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, United States; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Viterbi School of Engineering, University of Southern California, United States.
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14
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Lee JW, Sung JS, Park YS, Chung S, Kim YH. Isolation of spheroid-forming single cells from gastric cancer cell lines: enrichment of cancer stem-like cells. Biotechniques 2019; 65:197-203. [PMID: 30284938 DOI: 10.2144/btn-2018-0046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Isolation of spheroid-forming cells is important to investigate cancer stem cell (CSC) characteristics. However, conventional tumor spheroid culture methods have not proven suitable because the aggregated spheroids generally maintain their original heterogeneity and harbor multiple cells with various characteristics. Here we cultured spheroids using a polydimethylsiloxane microwell-based method and a limiting dilution protocol. We then isolated and enriched for CSCs that formed single cell-derived spheroids from gastric cancer cell lines. Cells from the microwell demonstrated higher self-renewal, increased expression of stem cell markers and resistance to apoptosis compared with spheroid cells made by the traditional method. This novel approach allows efficient cancer stem cell isolation and represents a step forward in cancer stem cell studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jong Won Lee
- Brain Korea 21 Plus Project for Biomedical Science, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea.,Cancer Research Institute, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae Sook Sung
- Cancer Research Institute, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Young Soo Park
- Cancer Research Institute, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Seok Chung
- School of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Yeul Hong Kim
- Brain Korea 21 Plus Project for Biomedical Science, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea.,Cancer Research Institute, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea.,Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University Medical Center, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
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15
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Jo Y, Choi N, Kim K, Koo HJ, Choi J, Kim HN. Chemoresistance of Cancer Cells: Requirements of Tumor Microenvironment-mimicking In Vitro Models in Anti-Cancer Drug Development. Am J Cancer Res 2018; 8:5259-5275. [PMID: 30555545 PMCID: PMC6276092 DOI: 10.7150/thno.29098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 113] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2018] [Accepted: 10/04/2018] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
For decades, scientists have been using two-dimensional cell culture platforms for high-throughput drug screening of anticancer drugs. Growing evidence indicates that the results of anti-cancer drug screening vary with the cell culture microenvironment, and this variation has been proposed as a reason for the high failure rate of clinical trials. Since the culture condition-dependent drug sensitivity of anti-cancer drugs may negatively impact the identification of clinically effective drug candidates, more reliable in vitro cancer platforms are urgently needed. In this review article, we provide an overview of how cell culture conditions can alter drug efficacy and highlight the importance of developing more reliable cancer drug testing platforms for use in the drug discovery process. The environmental factors that can alter drug delivery and efficacy are reviewed. Based on these observations of chemoresistant tumor physiology, we summarize the recent advances in the fabrication of in vitro cancer models and the model-dependent cytotoxicity of anti-cancer drugs, with a particular focus on engineered environmental factors in these platforms. It is believed that more physiologically relevant cancer models can revolutionize the drug discovery process.
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16
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Zhdanov VP. Proliferation of cells with aggregation and communication. Math Biosci 2018; 301:32-36. [PMID: 29391191 DOI: 10.1016/j.mbs.2018.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2017] [Revised: 01/16/2018] [Accepted: 01/17/2018] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Cell proliferation is often considered to occur via front propagation with constant velocity. This scenario proposed by Fisher, Kolmogorov, Petrovsky, and Piskunov is based on the solution of the corresponding mean-field reaction-diffusion equations and does not take into account that due to adhesion the cells have tendency to aggregate and that the rate of cell division may depend on the cell-cell communication. Herein, the author presents extensive Monte Carlo simulations taking both these factors into account and illustrating that the former factor can dramatically modify the spatio-temporal kinetics of cell proliferation. In particular, the conventional relation between the front velocity and diffusion coefficient may fail, the front velocity may appreciably increase with increasing time, and/or the front may be partly or fully smeared on the realistic length scales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vladimir P Zhdanov
- Section of Biological Physics, Department of Physics, Chalmers University of Technology, Göteborg, Sweden; Boreskov Institute of Catalysis, Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia.
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17
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McKee C, Chaudhry GR. Advances and challenges in stem cell culture. Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces 2017; 159:62-77. [PMID: 28780462 DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2017.07.051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 191] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2017] [Revised: 07/04/2017] [Accepted: 07/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Stem cells (SCs) hold great promise for cell therapy, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine as well as pharmaceutical and biotechnological applications. They have the capacity to self-renew and the ability to differentiate into specialized cell types depending upon their source of isolation. However, use of SCs for clinical applications requires a high quality and quantity of cells. This necessitates large-scale expansion of SCs followed by efficient and homogeneous differentiation into functional derivatives. Traditional methods for maintenance and expansion of cells rely on two-dimensional (2-D) culturing techniques using plastic culture plates and xenogenic media. These methods provide limited expansion and cells tend to lose clonal and differentiation capacity upon long-term passaging. Recently, new approaches for the expansion of SCs have emphasized three-dimensional (3-D) cell growth to mimic the in vivo environment. This review provides a comprehensive compendium of recent advancements in culturing SCs using 2-D and 3-D techniques involving spheroids, biomaterials, and bioreactors. In addition, potential challenges to achieve billion-fold expansion of cells are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina McKee
- Department of Biological Sciences , Oakland University, Rochester, MI, 48309, USA; OU-WB Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Oakland University, Rochester, MI, 48309, USA
| | - G Rasul Chaudhry
- Department of Biological Sciences , Oakland University, Rochester, MI, 48309, USA; OU-WB Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Oakland University, Rochester, MI, 48309, USA.
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