1
|
Feng X, Wu Z, Cheng LKW, Xiang Y, Sugimura R, Lin X, Wu AR. Reversibly-bonded microfluidic devices for stable cell culture and rapid, gentle cell extraction. LAB ON A CHIP 2024. [PMID: 38949063 DOI: 10.1039/d3lc01019h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/02/2024]
Abstract
Microfluidic chips have emerged as significant tools in cell culture due to their capacity for supporting cells to adopt more physiologically relevant morphologies in 3D compared with traditional cell culture in 2D. Currently, irreversible bonding methods, where chips cannot be detached from their substrates without destroying the structure, are commonly used in fabrication, making it challenging to conduct further analysis on cells that have been cultured on-chip. Although some reversible bonding techniques have been developed, they are either restricted to certain materials such as glass, or require complex processing procedures. Here, we demonstrate a simple and reversible polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-polystyrene (PS) bonding technique that allows devices to withstand extended operations while pressurized, and supports long-term stable cell cultures. More importantly, it allows rapid and gentle live cell extraction for downstream manipulation and characterization after long-term on-chip culturing, and even further subculturing. Our new approach could greatly facilitate microfluidic chip-based cell and tissue cultures, overcoming current analytical limitations and opening up new avenues for downstream uses of on-chip cultures, including 3D-engineered tissue structures for biomedical applications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaohan Feng
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR.
| | - Zehaoyu Wu
- Division of Life Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR.
| | - Lily Kwan Wai Cheng
- Division of Life Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR.
| | - Yang Xiang
- Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Ryohichi Sugimura
- Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Xuyan Lin
- Division of Life Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR.
- Center for Engineering Material and Reliability, Guangzhou HKUST Fok Ying Tung Research Institute, Guangzhou, China
| | - Angela Ruohao Wu
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR.
- Division of Life Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR.
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong SAR
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Wachendörfer M, Palkowitz AL, Fischer H. Development of a biofabricated 3D in vitrovessel model for investigating transendothelial migration in stem cell therapy. Biofabrication 2024; 16:035028. [PMID: 38810632 DOI: 10.1088/1758-5090/ad51a5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
Systemic stem cell therapies hold promise for treating severe diseases, but their efficiency is hampered by limited migration of injected stem cells across vascular endothelium towards diseased tissues. Understanding transendothelial migration is crucial for improving therapy outcomes. We propose a novel 3Din vitrovessel model that aids to unravel these mechanisms and thereby facilitates stem cell therapy development. Our model simulates inflammation through cytokine diffusion from the tissue site into the vessel. It consists of a biofabricated vessel embedded in a fibrin hydrogel, mimicking arterial wall composition with smooth muscle cells and fibroblasts. The perfusable channel is lined with a functional endothelium which expresses vascular endothelial cadherin, provides an active barrier function, aligns with flow direction and is reconstructed byin situtwo-photon-microscopy. Inflammatory cytokine release (tumor necrosis factorα, stromal-derived factor (1) is demonstrated in both a transwell assay and the 3D model. In proof-of-principle experiments, mesoangioblasts, known as a promising candidate for a stem cell therapy against muscular dystrophies, are injected into the vessel model, showing shear-resistant endothelial adhesion under capillary-like flow conditions. Our 3Din vitromodel offers significant potential to study transendothelial migration mechanisms of stem cells, facilitating the development of improved stem cell therapies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mattis Wachendörfer
- Department of Dental Materials and Biomaterials Research, RWTH Aachen University Hospital, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Alena Lisa Palkowitz
- Department of Dental Materials and Biomaterials Research, RWTH Aachen University Hospital, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Horst Fischer
- Department of Dental Materials and Biomaterials Research, RWTH Aachen University Hospital, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Chapman F, de Haan L, Gijzen L, Strijker W, Sticken ET, Pour SJ, Wieczorek R, Haberstroh F, Otte S, Nahde T, Simms L, Stevenson M. Optimisation of an in vitro human cardiovascular model on-a-chip for toxicological assessment of nicotine delivery products. FRONTIERS IN TOXICOLOGY 2024; 6:1395670. [PMID: 38938662 PMCID: PMC11208624 DOI: 10.3389/ftox.2024.1395670] [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: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Smoking cigarettes is a cause of serious diseases in smokers, including cardiovascular disease. Through a pathway of endothelial dysfunction, lipid infiltration, macrophage recruitment and vascular remodeling, atherosclerosis is fundamental in the development of most cardiovascular diseases. There is an increasing number of next-generation products (NGP) which provide potentially reduced harm forms of nicotine delivery to adult smokers. This study aimed to optimise an in vitro cardiovascular model to assess such products. Human Coronary Artery Endothelial Cells (HCAECs) were cultured on an OrganoPlate®2-lane chip (Mimetas BV) combined with THP-1 monocytes under flow conditions. Methods An aqueous aerosol extract from the 1R6F reference cigarette was compared with two categories of NGP, (a heated tobacco product (HTP) and an electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS)), to assess relative effects on select atherogenic endpoints (oxidative stress, monocyte adhesion, ICAM-1 expression, and inflammatory markers). Following exposure of THP-1 monocytes with the aqueous extracts, the resulting conditioned medium was then added to the HCAEC vessels. Results 1R6F was consistently the most potent test article, eliciting observed responses at 4x lower concentrations than applied for both the HTP and ENDS. The HTP was more potent than the ENDS product across all endpoints, however, all test articles increased monocyte adhesion. ICAM-1 did not appear to be a main driver for monocyte adhesion, however, this could be due to replicate variability. Upon comparison to an extract-only control exposure, THP-1-medium pre-conditioning was an important mediator of the responses observed. Conclusion In conclusion, the data suggests that the NGP extracts, containing primary aerosol chemical constituents exhibit a marked reduction in biological activity in the early key events associated with atherogenesis when compared to a cigarette, adding to the weight of evidence for the tobacco harm reduction potential of such products.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Sarah Jean Pour
- Reemtsma Cigarettenfabriken GmbH, An Imperial Brands PLC Company, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Roman Wieczorek
- Reemtsma Cigarettenfabriken GmbH, An Imperial Brands PLC Company, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Florian Haberstroh
- Reemtsma Cigarettenfabriken GmbH, An Imperial Brands PLC Company, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Sandra Otte
- Reemtsma Cigarettenfabriken GmbH, An Imperial Brands PLC Company, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Thomas Nahde
- Reemtsma Cigarettenfabriken GmbH, An Imperial Brands PLC Company, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Liam Simms
- Imperial Brands PLC, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | | |
Collapse
|
4
|
Zarate-Sanchez E, George SC, Moya ML, Robertson C. Vascular dysfunction in hemorrhagic viral fevers: opportunities for organotypic modeling. Biofabrication 2024; 16:032008. [PMID: 38749416 PMCID: PMC11151171 DOI: 10.1088/1758-5090/ad4c0b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2023] [Revised: 04/25/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024]
Abstract
The hemorrhagic fever viruses (HFVs) cause severe or fatal infections in humans. Named after their common symptom hemorrhage, these viruses induce significant vascular dysfunction by affecting endothelial cells, altering immunity, and disrupting the clotting system. Despite advances in treatments, such as cytokine blocking therapies, disease modifying treatment for this class of pathogen remains elusive. Improved understanding of the pathogenesis of these infections could provide new avenues to treatment. While animal models and traditional 2D cell cultures have contributed insight into the mechanisms by which these pathogens affect the vasculature, these models fall short in replicatingin vivohuman vascular dynamics. The emergence of microphysiological systems (MPSs) offers promising avenues for modeling these complex interactions. These MPS or 'organ-on-chip' models present opportunities to better mimic human vascular responses and thus aid in treatment development. In this review, we explore the impact of HFV on the vasculature by causing endothelial dysfunction, blood clotting irregularities, and immune dysregulation. We highlight how existing MPS have elucidated features of HFV pathogenesis as well as discuss existing knowledge gaps and the challenges in modeling these interactions using MPS. Understanding the intricate mechanisms of vascular dysfunction caused by HFV is crucial in developing therapies not only for these infections, but also for other vasculotropic conditions like sepsis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Evelyn Zarate-Sanchez
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States of America
| | - Steven C George
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States of America
| | - Monica L Moya
- Materials Engineering Division, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA, United States of America
| | - Claire Robertson
- Materials Engineering Division, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA, United States of America
- UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center, Davis, CA, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Bittenbinder MA, Bonanini F, Kurek D, Vulto P, Kool J, Vonk FJ. Using organ-on-a-chip technology to study haemorrhagic activities of snake venoms on endothelial tubules. Sci Rep 2024; 14:11157. [PMID: 38834598 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-60282-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 04/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Snakebite envenomation is a major public health issue which causes severe morbidity and mortality, affecting millions of people annually. Of a diverse range of clinical manifestations, local and systemic haemorrhage are of particular relevance, as this may result in ischemia, organ failure and even cardiovascular shock. Thus far, in vitro studies have failed to recapitulate the haemorrhagic effects observed in vivo. Here, we present an organ-on-a-chip approach to investigate the effects of four different snake venoms on a perfused microfluidic blood vessel model. We assess the effect of the venoms of four snake species on epithelial barrier function, cell viability, and contraction/delamination. Our findings reveal two different mechanisms by which the microvasculature is being affected, either by disruption of the endothelial cell membrane or by delamination of the endothelial cell monolayer from its matrix. The use of our blood vessel model may shed light on the key mechanisms by which tissue-damaging venoms exert their effects on the capillary vessels, which could be helpful for the development of effective treatments against snakebites.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mátyás A Bittenbinder
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center, 2333 CR, Leiden, The Netherlands
- AIMMS, Division of BioAnalytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | | | | | - Jeroen Kool
- AIMMS, Division of BioAnalytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Freek J Vonk
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center, 2333 CR, Leiden, The Netherlands
- AIMMS, Division of BioAnalytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Morrison AI, Sjoerds MJ, Vonk LA, Gibbs S, Koning JJ. In vitro immunity: an overview of immunocompetent organ-on-chip models. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1373186. [PMID: 38835750 PMCID: PMC11148285 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1373186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Impressive advances have been made to replicate human physiology in vitro over the last few years due to the growth of the organ-on-chip (OoC) field in both industrial and academic settings. OoCs are a type of microphysiological system (MPS) that imitates functional and dynamic aspects of native human organ biology on a microfluidic device. Organoids and organotypic models, ranging in their complexity from simple single-cell to complex multi-cell type constructs, are being incorporated into OoC microfluidic devices to better mimic human physiology. OoC technology has now progressed to the stage at which it has received official recognition by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use as an alternative to standard procedures in drug development, such as animal studies and traditional in vitro assays. However, an area that is still lagging behind is the incorporation of the immune system, which is a critical element required to investigate human health and disease. In this review, we summarise the progress made to integrate human immunology into various OoC systems, specifically focusing on models related to organ barriers and lymphoid organs. These models utilise microfluidic devices that are either commercially available or custom-made. This review explores the difference between the use of innate and adaptive immune cells and their role for modelling organ-specific diseases in OoCs. Immunocompetent multi-OoC models are also highlighted and the extent to which they recapitulate systemic physiology is discussed. Together, the aim of this review is to describe the current state of immune-OoCs, the limitations and the future perspectives needed to improve the field.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrew I. Morrison
- Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology, Amsterdam UMC Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Inflammatory Diseases, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Mirthe J. Sjoerds
- Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology, Amsterdam UMC Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Leander A. Vonk
- Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology, Amsterdam UMC Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Susan Gibbs
- Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology, Amsterdam UMC Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Inflammatory Diseases, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Department of Oral Cell Biology, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), University of Amsterdam and Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Jasper J. Koning
- Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology, Amsterdam UMC Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Inflammatory Diseases, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Wang X, Luo Y, Ma Y, Wang P, Yao R. Converging bioprinting and organoids to better recapitulate the tumor microenvironment. Trends Biotechnol 2024; 42:648-663. [PMID: 38071145 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2023.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Revised: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/04/2024]
Abstract
Bioprinting shows excellent potential for preclinical tumor modeling, with significant advantages over 2D cell cultures in replicating the tumor microenvironment (TME). Recently, the use of tumor organoids in bioprinting models has emerged as a groundbreaking approach to simulate volumetric tumor tissues. This synergetic fabrication method leverages the advantages of the spatial and geometric control of bioprinting to assemble heterogeneous TME components, while tumor organoids maintain collective cell behaviors. In this review, we provide a landscape of the latest progress on the convergence of 3D bioprinting and tumor organoids. Furthermore, we discuss the potential to incorporate organ-on-a-chip with bioprinting tumor organoids to improve the biomimicry and predictability of therapeutic performance. Lastly, we address the challenges to personalized medicine and predictive clinical integration.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyu Wang
- School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials Processing Technology of Ministry of Education, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Yixue Luo
- Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials Processing Technology of Ministry of Education, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Yuankai Ma
- Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials Processing Technology of Ministry of Education, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Pengyu Wang
- Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials Processing Technology of Ministry of Education, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Rui Yao
- Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials Processing Technology of Ministry of Education, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Jadalannagari S, Ewart L. Beyond the hype and toward application: liver complex in vitro models in preclinical drug safety. Expert Opin Drug Metab Toxicol 2024:1-13. [PMID: 38465923 DOI: 10.1080/17425255.2024.2328794] [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: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Drug induced Liver-Injury (DILI) is a leading cause of drug attrition and complex in vitro models (CIVMs), including three dimensional (3D) spheroids, 3D bio printed tissues and flow-based systems, could improve preclinical prediction. Although CIVMs have demonstrated good sensitivity and specificity in DILI detection their adoption remains limited. AREAS COVERED This article describes DILI, the challenges with its prediction and the current strategies and models that are being used. It reviews data from industry-FDA collaborations and strategic partnerships and finishes with an outlook of CIVMs in preclinical toxicity testing. Literature searches were performed using PubMed and Google Scholar while product information was collected from manufacturer websites. EXPERT OPINION Liver CIVMs are promising models for predicting DILI although, a decade after their introduction, routine use by the pharmaceutical industry is limited. To accelerate their adoption, several industry-regulator-developer partnerships or consortia have been established to guide the development and qualification. Beyond this, liver CIVMs should continue evolving to capture greater immunological mimicry while partnering with computational approaches to deliver systems that change the paradigm of predicting DILI.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Lorna Ewart
- Department of Bioinnovations, Emulate Inc, Boston, MA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Ravi K, Manoharan TJM, Wang KC, Pockaj B, Nikkhah M. Engineered 3D ex vivo models to recapitulate the complex stromal and immune interactions within the tumor microenvironment. Biomaterials 2024; 305:122428. [PMID: 38147743 PMCID: PMC11098715 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2023.122428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/28/2023]
Abstract
Cancer thrives in a complex environment where interactions between cellular and acellular components, surrounding the tumor, play a crucial role in disease development and progression. Despite significant progress in cancer research, the mechanism driving tumor growth and therapeutic outcomes remains elusive. Two-dimensional (2D) cell culture assays and in vivo animal models are commonly used in cancer research and therapeutic testing. However, these models suffer from numerous shortcomings including lack of key features of the tumor microenvironment (TME) & cellular composition, cost, and ethical clearance. To that end, there is an increased interest in incorporating and elucidating the influence of TME on cancer progression. Advancements in 3D-engineered ex vivo models, leveraging biomaterials and microengineering technologies, have provided an unprecedented ability to reconstruct native-like bioengineered cancer models to study the heterotypic interactions of TME with a spatiotemporal organization. These bioengineered cancer models have shown excellent capabilities to bridge the gap between oversimplified 2D systems and animal models. In this review article, we primarily provide an overview of the immune and stromal cellular components of the TME and then discuss the latest state-of-the-art 3D-engineered ex vivo platforms aiming to recapitulate the complex TME features. The engineered TME model, discussed herein, are categorized into three main sections according to the cellular interactions within TME: (i) Tumor-Stromal interactions, (ii) Tumor-Immune interactions, and (iii) Complex TME interactions. Finally, we will conclude the article with a perspective on how these models can be instrumental for cancer translational studies and therapeutic testing.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kalpana Ravi
- School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering (SBHSE), Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287, USA
| | | | - Kuei-Chun Wang
- School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering (SBHSE), Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287, USA
| | | | - Mehdi Nikkhah
- School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering (SBHSE), Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287, USA; Biodesign Virginia G. Piper Center for Personalized Diagnostics, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Hirth E, Cao W, Peltonen M, Kapetanovic E, Dietsche C, Svanberg S, Filippova M, Reddy S, Dittrich PS. Self-assembled and perfusable microvasculature-on-chip for modeling leukocyte trafficking. LAB ON A CHIP 2024; 24:292-304. [PMID: 38086670 PMCID: PMC10793075 DOI: 10.1039/d3lc00719g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
Leukocyte recruitment from blood to tissue is a process that occurs at the level of capillary vessels during both physiological and pathological conditions. This process is also relevant for evaluating novel adoptive cell therapies, in which the trafficking of therapeutic cells such as chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cells throughout the capillaries of solid tumors is important. Local variations in blood flow, mural cell concentration, and tissue stiffness contribute to the regulation of capillary vascular permeability and leukocyte trafficking throughout the capillary microvasculature. We developed a platform to mimic a biologically functional human arteriole-venule microcirculation system consisting of pericytes (PCs) and arterial and venous primary endothelial cells (ECs) embedded within a hydrogel, which self-assembles into a perfusable, heterogeneous microvasculature. Our device shows a preferential association of PCs with arterial ECs that drives the flow-dependent formation of microvasculature networks. We show that PCs stimulate basement membrane matrix synthesis, which affects both vessel diameter and permeability in a manner correlating with the ratio of ECs to PCs. Moreover, we demonstrate that hydrogel concentration can affect capillary morphology but has no observed effect on vascular permeability. The biological function of our capillary network was demonstrated using an inflammation model, where significantly higher expression of cytokines, chemokines, and adhesion molecules was observed after tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) treatment. Accordingly, T cell adherence and transendothelial migration were significantly increased in the immune-activated state. Taken together, our platform allows the generation of a perfusable microvasculature that recapitulates the structure and function of an in vivo capillary bed that can be used as a model for developing potential immunotherapies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth Hirth
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zurich, 4056, Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Wuji Cao
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zurich, 4056, Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Marina Peltonen
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zurich, 4056, Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Edo Kapetanovic
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zurich, 4056, Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Claudius Dietsche
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zurich, 4056, Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Sara Svanberg
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zurich, 4056, Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Maria Filippova
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, 4031 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Sai Reddy
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zurich, 4056, Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Petra S Dittrich
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zurich, 4056, Basel, Switzerland.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Muhuri AK, Alapan Y, Camargo CP, Thomas SN. Microengineered In Vitro Assays for Screening and Sorting Manufactured Therapeutic T Cells. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2024; 212:199-207. [PMID: 38166247 PMCID: PMC10783858 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2300488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/04/2024]
Abstract
Adoptively transferred T cells constitute a major class of current and emergent cellular immunotherapies for the treatment of disease, including but not limited to cancer. Although key advancements in molecular recognition, genetic engineering, and manufacturing have dramatically enhanced their translational potential, therapeutic potency remains limited by poor homing and infiltration of transferred cells within target host tissues. In vitro microengineered homing assays with precise control over micromechanical and biological cues can address these shortcomings by enabling interrogation, screening, sorting, and optimization of therapeutic T cells based on their homing capacity. In this article, the working principles, application, and integration of microengineered homing assays for the mechanistic study of biophysical and biomolecular cues relevant to homing of therapeutic T cells are reviewed. The potential for these platforms to enable scalable enrichment and screening of next-generation manufactured T cell therapies for cancer is also discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Abir K. Muhuri
- George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
- Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology
| | - Yunus Alapan
- George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
- Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology
| | - Camila P. Camargo
- George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
- Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology
| | - Susan N. Thomas
- George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
- Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University
- Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Ozer LY, Fayed HS, Ericsson J, Al Haj Zen A. Development of a cancer metastasis-on-chip assay for high throughput drug screening. Front Oncol 2024; 13:1269376. [PMID: 38239643 PMCID: PMC10794518 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1269376] [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: 07/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Metastasis is the cause of most triple-negative breast cancer deaths, yet anti-metastatic therapeutics remain limited. To develop new therapeutics to prevent metastasis, pathophysiologically relevant assays that recapitulate tumor microenvironment is essential for disease modeling and drug discovery. Here, we have developed a microfluidic metastasis-on-chip assay of the early stages of cancer metastasis integrated with the triple-negative breast cancer cell line (MDA-MB-231), stromal fibroblasts and a perfused microvessel. High-content imaging with automated quantification methods was optimized to assess the tumor cell invasion and intravasation within the model. Cell invasion and intravasation were enhanced when fibroblasts co-cultured with a breast cancer cell line (MDA-MB-231). However, the non-invasive breast cancer cell line, MCF7, remained non-invasive in our model, even in the presence of fibroblasts. High-content screening of a targeted anti-cancer therapy drug library was conducted to evaluate the drug response sensitivity of the optimized model. Through this screening, we identified 30 compounds that reduced the tumor intravasation by 60% compared to controls. Multi-parametric phenotypic analysis was applied by combining the data from the metastasis-on-chip, cell proliferation and 2D cell migration screens, revealing that the drug library was clustered into eight distinct groups with similar drug responses. Notably, MEK inhibitors were enriched in cluster cell invasion and intravasation. In contrast, drugs with molecular targets: ABL, KIT, PDGF, SRC, and VEGFR were enriched in the drug clusters showing a strong effect on tumor cell intravasation with less impact on cell invasion or cell proliferation, of which, Imatinib, a multi-kinase inhibitor targeting BCR-ABL/PDGFR/KIT. Further experimental analysis showed that Imatinib enhanced endothelial barrier stability as measured by trans-endothelial electrical resistance and significantly reduced the trans-endothelial invasion activity of tumor cells. Our findings demonstrate the potential of our metastasis-on-chip assay as a powerful tool for studying cancer metastasis biology, drug discovery aims, and assessing drug responses, offering prospects for personalized anti-metastatic therapies for triple-negative breast cancer patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Ayman Al Haj Zen
- College of Health and Life Sciences, Hamad bin Khalifa University, Doha, Qatar
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Polidoro MA, Ferrari E, Soldani C, Franceschini B, Saladino G, Rosina A, Mainardi A, D’Autilia F, Pugliese N, Costa G, Donadon M, Torzilli G, Marzorati S, Rasponi M, Lleo A. Cholangiocarcinoma-on-a-chip: A human 3D platform for personalised medicine. JHEP Rep 2024; 6:100910. [PMID: 38074504 PMCID: PMC10698278 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhepr.2023.100910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Revised: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 12/13/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a primary liver tumour characterised by a poor prognosis and limited therapeutic options. Available 3D human CCA models fail to faithfully recapitulate the tumour niche. We aimed to develop an innovative patient-specific CCA-on-chip platform. METHODS A CCA tumour microenvironment was recapitulated on a microfluidic three-channel chip using primary CCA cells, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), endothelial cells, and T cells isolated from CCA specimens (n = 6). CAF and CCA cells were co-cultured in the central channel, flanked by endothelial cells in one lateral channel, recreating a tubular structure. An extensive characterisation of this platform was carried out to investigate its diffusion ability, hydrogel properties, and changes in matrix composition. Cell phenotype and functional properties were assessed. RESULTS Primary cells seeded on the microfluidic device were shown to reproduce the architectural structure and maintain the original phenotype and functional properties. The tumour niche underwent a deep remodelling in the 3D device, with an increase in hydrogel stiffness and extracellular matrix deposition, mimicking in vivo CCA characteristics. T cells were incorporated into the device to assess its reliability for immune cell interaction studies. Higher T cell migration was observed using cells from patients with highly infiltrated tumours. Finally, the drug trial showed the ability of the device to recapitulate different drug responses based on patient characteristics. CONCLUSIONS We presented a 3D CCA platform that integrates the major non-immune components of the tumour microenvironment and the T cell infiltrate, reflecting the CCA niche. This CCA-on-chip represents a reliable patient-specific 3D platform that will be of help to further elucidate the biological mechanisms involved in CCA and provide an efficient tool for personalised drug testing. IMPACT AND IMPLICATIONS An innovative patient-specific cholangiocarcinoma (CCA)-on-chip platform was successfully developed, integrating the major components of the tumour microenvironment (tumour cells, cancer-associated fibroblasts, endothelial cells, and immune infiltrate) and faithfully mimicking the CCA niche. This CCA-on-chip represents a powerful tool for unravelling disease-associated cellular mechanisms in CCA and provides an efficient tool for personalised drug testing.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michela Anna Polidoro
- Hepatobiliary Immunopathology Laboratory, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Erika Ferrari
- Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Cristiana Soldani
- Hepatobiliary Immunopathology Laboratory, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Barbara Franceschini
- Hepatobiliary Immunopathology Laboratory, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Saladino
- Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Arianna Rosina
- Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Andrea Mainardi
- Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy
- Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Francesca D’Autilia
- Unit of Advanced Optical Microscopy, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Nicola Pugliese
- Department of Biomedical Science, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele, Milan, Italy
- Division of Internal Medicine and Hepatology, Department of Gastroenterology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Guido Costa
- Division of Hepatobiliary and General Surgery, Department of Surgery, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Matteo Donadon
- Department of Health Sciences, Università del Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy
- Department of General Surgery, University Maggiore Hospital, Novara, Italy
| | - Guido Torzilli
- Department of Biomedical Science, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele, Milan, Italy
- Division of Hepatobiliary and General Surgery, Department of Surgery, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Simona Marzorati
- Hepatobiliary Immunopathology Laboratory, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Marco Rasponi
- Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Ana Lleo
- Department of Biomedical Science, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele, Milan, Italy
- Division of Internal Medicine and Hepatology, Department of Gastroenterology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Ramadan Q, Hazaymeh R, Zourob M. Immunity-on-a-Chip: Integration of Immune Components into the Scheme of Organ-on-a-Chip Systems. Adv Biol (Weinh) 2023; 7:e2200312. [PMID: 36866511 DOI: 10.1002/adbi.202200312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/04/2023]
Abstract
Studying the immune system in vitro aims to understand how, when, and where the immune cells migrate/differentiate and respond to the various triggering events and the decision points along the immune response journey. It becomes evident that organ-on-a-chip (OOC) technology has a superior capability to recapitulate the cell-cell and tissue-tissue interaction in the body, with a great potential to provide tools for tracking the paracrine signaling with high spatial-temporal precision and implementing in situ real-time, non-destructive detection assays, therefore, enabling extraction of mechanistic information rather than phenotypic information. However, despite the rapid development in this technology, integration of the immune system into OOC devices stays among the least navigated tasks, with immune cells still the major missing components in the developed models. This is mainly due to the complexity of the immune system and the reductionist methodology of the OOC modules. Dedicated research in this field is demanded to establish the understanding of mechanism-based disease endotypes rather than phenotypes. Herein, we systemically present a synthesis of the state-of-the-art of immune-cantered OOC technology. We comprehensively outlined what is achieved and identified the technology gaps emphasizing the missing components required to establish immune-competent OOCs and bridge these gaps.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qasem Ramadan
- Alfaisal University, Riyadh, 11533, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Rana Hazaymeh
- Almaarefa University, Diriyah, 13713, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | | |
Collapse
|
15
|
Wevers NR, De Vries HE. Microfluidic models of the neurovascular unit: a translational view. Fluids Barriers CNS 2023; 20:86. [PMID: 38008744 PMCID: PMC10680291 DOI: 10.1186/s12987-023-00490-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The vasculature of the brain consists of specialized endothelial cells that form a blood-brain barrier (BBB). This barrier, in conjunction with supporting cell types, forms the neurovascular unit (NVU). The NVU restricts the passage of certain substances from the bloodstream while selectively permitting essential nutrients and molecules to enter the brain. This protective role is crucial for optimal brain function, but presents a significant obstacle in treating neurological conditions, necessitating chemical modifications or advanced drug delivery methods for most drugs to cross the NVU. A deeper understanding of NVU in health and disease will aid in the identification of new therapeutic targets and drug delivery strategies for improved treatment of neurological disorders.To achieve this goal, we need models that reflect the human BBB and NVU in health and disease. Although animal models of the brain's vasculature have proven valuable, they are often of limited translational relevance due to interspecies differences or inability to faithfully mimic human disease conditions. For this reason, human in vitro models are essential to improve our understanding of the brain's vasculature under healthy and diseased conditions. This review delves into the advancements in in vitro modeling of the BBB and NVU, with a particular focus on microfluidic models. After providing a historical overview of the field, we shift our focus to recent developments, offering insights into the latest achievements and their associated constraints. We briefly examine the importance of chip materials and methods to facilitate fluid flow, emphasizing their critical roles in achieving the necessary throughput for the integration of microfluidic models into routine experimentation. Subsequently, we highlight the recent strides made in enhancing the biological complexity of microfluidic NVU models and propose recommendations for elevating the biological relevance of future iterations.Importantly, the NVU is an intricate structure and it is improbable that any model will fully encompass all its aspects. Fit-for-purpose models offer a valuable compromise between physiological relevance and ease-of-use and hold the future of NVU modeling: as simple as possible, as complex as needed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nienke R Wevers
- MIMETAS BV, De Limes 7, Oegstgeest, 2342 DH, The Netherlands.
| | - Helga E De Vries
- Amsterdam UMC location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Neuroscience - Neuroinfection and Neuroinflammation, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Nair AL, Groenendijk L, Overdevest R, Fowke TM, Annida R, Mocellin O, de Vries HE, Wevers NR. Human BBB-on-a-chip reveals barrier disruption, endothelial inflammation, and T cell migration under neuroinflammatory conditions. Front Mol Neurosci 2023; 16:1250123. [PMID: 37818458 PMCID: PMC10561300 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2023.1250123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a highly selective barrier that ensures a homeostatic environment for the central nervous system (CNS). BBB dysfunction, inflammation, and immune cell infiltration are hallmarks of many CNS disorders, including multiple sclerosis and stroke. Physiologically relevant human in vitro models of the BBB are essential to improve our understanding of its function in health and disease, identify novel drug targets, and assess potential new therapies. We present a BBB-on-a-chip model comprising human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMECs) cultured in a microfluidic platform that allows parallel culture of 40 chips. In each chip, a perfused HBMEC vessel was grown against an extracellular matrix gel in a membrane-free manner. BBBs-on-chips were exposed to varying concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) to mimic inflammation. The effect of the inflammatory conditions was studied by assessing the BBBs-on-chips' barrier function, cell morphology, and expression of cell adhesion molecules. Primary human T cells were perfused through the lumen of the BBBs-on-chips to study T cell adhesion, extravasation, and migration. Under inflammatory conditions, the BBBs-on-chips showed decreased trans-endothelial electrical resistance (TEER), increased permeability to sodium fluorescein, and aberrant cell morphology in a concentration-dependent manner. Moreover, we observed increased expression of cell adhesion molecules and concomitant monocyte adhesion. T cells extravasated from the inflamed blood vessels and migrated towards a C-X-C Motif Chemokine Ligand 12 (CXCL12) gradient. T cell adhesion was significantly reduced and a trend towards decreased migration was observed in presence of Natalizumab, an antibody drug that blocks very late antigen-4 (VLA-4) and is used in the treatment of multiple sclerosis. In conclusion, we demonstrate a high-throughput microfluidic model of the human BBB that can be used to model neuroinflammation and assess anti-inflammatory and barrier-restoring interventions to fight neurological disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Arya Lekshmi Nair
- MIMETAS BV, Oegstgeest, Netherlands
- Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Neuroscience – Neuroinfection and Neuroinflammation, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Helga E. de Vries
- Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Neuroscience – Neuroinfection and Neuroinflammation, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | | |
Collapse
|
17
|
Kutluk H, Bastounis EE, Constantinou I. Integration of Extracellular Matrices into Organ-on-Chip Systems. Adv Healthc Mater 2023; 12:e2203256. [PMID: 37018430 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202203256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Revised: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/07/2023]
Abstract
The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a complex, dynamic network present within all tissues and organs that not only acts as a mechanical support and anchorage point but can also direct fundamental cell behavior, function, and characteristics. Although the importance of the ECM is well established, the integration of well-controlled ECMs into Organ-on-Chip (OoC) platforms remains challenging and the methods to modulate and assess ECM properties on OoCs remain underdeveloped. In this review, current state-of-the-art design and assessment of in vitro ECM environments is discussed with a focus on their integration into OoCs. Among other things, synthetic and natural hydrogels, as well as polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) used as substrates, coatings, or cell culture membranes are reviewed in terms of their ability to mimic the native ECM and their accessibility for characterization. The intricate interplay among materials, OoC architecture, and ECM characterization is critically discussed as it significantly complicates the design of ECM-related studies, comparability between works, and reproducibility that can be achieved across research laboratories. Improving the biomimetic nature of OoCs by integrating properly considered ECMs would contribute to their further adoption as replacements for animal models, and precisely tailored ECM properties would promote the use of OoCs in mechanobiology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hazal Kutluk
- Institute of Microtechnology (IMT), Technical University of Braunschweig, Alte Salzdahlumer Str. 203, 38124, Braunschweig, Germany
- Center of Pharmaceutical Engineering (PVZ), Technical University of Braunschweig, Franz-Liszt-Str. 35a, 38106, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Effie E Bastounis
- Institute of Microbiology and Infection Medicine (IMIT), Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 28, E8, 72076, Tübingen, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence "Controlling Microbes to Fight Infections" EXC 2124, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 28, 72076, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Iordania Constantinou
- Institute of Microtechnology (IMT), Technical University of Braunschweig, Alte Salzdahlumer Str. 203, 38124, Braunschweig, Germany
- Center of Pharmaceutical Engineering (PVZ), Technical University of Braunschweig, Franz-Liszt-Str. 35a, 38106, Braunschweig, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Chavarria D, Abbaspour A, Celestino N, Shah N, Sankar S, Baker AB. A high throughput blood-brain barrier model incorporating shear stress with improved predictive power for drug discovery. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2023; 17:044105. [PMID: 37614679 PMCID: PMC10444201 DOI: 10.1063/5.0150887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Abstract
The blood-brain barrier is a key structure regulating the health of the brain and access of drugs and pathogens to neural tissue. Shear stress is a key regulator of the blood-brain barrier; however, the commonly used multi-well vitro models of the blood-brain barrier do not incorporate shear stress. In this work, we designed and validated a high-throughput system for simulating the blood-brain barrier that incorporates physiological flow and incorporates an optimized cellular model of the blood-brain barrier. This system can perform assays of blood-brain barrier function with shear stress, with 48 independent assays simultaneously. Using the high throughput assay, we conducted drug screening assays to explore the effects of compounds for opening or closing blood-brain barrier. Our studies revealed that assays with shear stress were more predictive and were able to identify compounds known to modify the blood-brain barrier function while static assays were not. Overall, we demonstrate an optimized, high throughput assay for simulating the blood-brain barrier that incorporates shear stress and is practical for use in drug screening and other high throughput studies of toxicology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Chavarria
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA
| | - Ali Abbaspour
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA
| | - Natalie Celestino
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA
| | - Nehali Shah
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA
| | | | - Aaron B. Baker
- Author to whom correspondence should be addressed:. Tel.:+512-232-7114
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
van Os L, Yeoh J, Witz G, Ferrari D, Krebs P, Chandorkar Y, Zeinali S, Sengupta A, Guenat O. Immune cell extravasation in an organ-on-chip to model lung imflammation. Eur J Pharm Sci 2023:106485. [PMID: 37270149 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejps.2023.106485] [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: 02/22/2023] [Revised: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a severe lung condition with high mortality and various causes, including lung infection. No specific treatment is currently available and more research aimed at better understanding the pathophysiology of ARDS is needed. Most lung-on-chip models that aim at mimicking the air-blood barrier are designed with a horizontal barrier through which immune cells can migrate vertically, making it challenging to visualize and investigate their migration. In addition, these models often lack a barrier of natural protein-derived extracellular matrix (ECM) suitable for live cell imaging to investigate ECM-dependent migration of immune cells as seen in ARDS. This study reports a novel inflammation-on-chip model with live cell imaging of immune cell extravasation and migration during lung inflammation. The three-channel perfusable inflammation-on-chip system mimics the lung endothelial barrier, the ECM environment and the (inflamed) lung epithelial barrier. A chemotactic gradient was established across the ECM hydrogel, leading to the migration of immune cells through the endothelial barrier. We found that immune cell extravasation depends on the presence of an endothelial barrier, on the ECM density and stiffness, and on the flow profile. In particular, bidirectional flow, broadly used in association with rocking platforms, was found to importantly delay extravasation of immune cells in contrast to unidirectional flow. Extravasation was increased in the presence of lung epithelial tissue. This model is currently used to study inflammation-induced immune cell migration but can be used to study infection-induced immune cell migration under different conditions, such as ECM composition, density and stiffness, type of infectious agents used, and the presence of organ-specific cell types.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lisette van Os
- Organs-on-Chip Technologies, ARTORG Center for Biomedical Engineering Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Jeremy Yeoh
- Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; Institute of Pathology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Guillaume Witz
- Microscopy Imaging Center (MIC) & Data Science Lab (DSL), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Dario Ferrari
- Organs-on-Chip Technologies, ARTORG Center for Biomedical Engineering Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Philippe Krebs
- Institute of Pathology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Yashoda Chandorkar
- Laboratory for Biointerfaces, EMPA Empa Swiss Federal Laboratories for Material Science and Technology, St Gallen, Switzerland
| | - Soheila Zeinali
- Organs-on-Chip Technologies, ARTORG Center for Biomedical Engineering Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Arunima Sengupta
- Organs-on-Chip Technologies, ARTORG Center for Biomedical Engineering Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Olivier Guenat
- Organs-on-Chip Technologies, ARTORG Center for Biomedical Engineering Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Inselspital, University Hospital of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; Department of General Thoracic Surgery, Inselspital, University Hospital of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Van Os L, Engelhardt B, Guenat OT. Integration of immune cells in organs-on-chips: a tutorial. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2023; 11:1191104. [PMID: 37324438 PMCID: PMC10267470 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1191104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Viral and bacterial infections continue to pose significant challenges for numerous individuals globally. To develop novel therapies to combat infections, more insight into the actions of the human innate and adaptive immune system during infection is necessary. Human in vitro models, such as organs-on-chip (OOC) models, have proven to be a valuable addition to the tissue modeling toolbox. The incorporation of an immune component is needed to bring OOC models to the next level and enable them to mimic complex biological responses. The immune system affects many (patho)physiological processes in the human body, such as those taking place during an infection. This tutorial review introduces the reader to the building blocks of an OOC model of acute infection to investigate recruitment of circulating immune cells into the infected tissue. The multi-step extravasation cascade in vivo is described, followed by an in-depth guide on how to model this process on a chip. Next to chip design, creation of a chemotactic gradient and incorporation of endothelial, epithelial, and immune cells, the review focuses on the hydrogel extracellular matrix (ECM) to accurately model the interstitial space through which extravasated immune cells migrate towards the site of infection. Overall, this tutorial review is a practical guide for developing an OOC model of immune cell migration from the blood into the interstitial space during infection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lisette Van Os
- Organs-on-Chip Technologies, ARTORG Center for Biomedical Engineering, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | - Olivier T. Guenat
- Organs-on-Chip Technologies, ARTORG Center for Biomedical Engineering, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Inselspital, University Hospital of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of General Thoracic Surgery, Inselspital, University Hospital of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Shevchuk O, Palii S, Pak A, Chantada N, Seoane N, Korda M, Campos-Toimil M, Álvarez E. Vessel-on-a-Chip: A Powerful Tool for Investigating Endothelial COVID-19 Fingerprints. Cells 2023; 12:cells12091297. [PMID: 37174696 PMCID: PMC10177552 DOI: 10.3390/cells12091297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Revised: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/30/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) causes various vascular and blood-related reactions, including exacerbated responses. The role of endothelial cells in this acute response is remarkable and may remain important beyond the acute phase. As we move into a post-COVID-19 era (where most people have been or will be infected by the SARS-CoV-2 virus), it is crucial to define the vascular consequences of COVID-19, including the long-term effects on the cardiovascular system. Research is needed to determine whether chronic endothelial dysfunction following COVID-19 could lead to an increased risk of cardiovascular and thrombotic events. Endothelial dysfunction could also serve as a diagnostic and therapeutic target for post-COVID-19. This review covers these topics and examines the potential of emerging vessel-on-a-chip technology to address these needs. Vessel-on-a-chip would allow for the study of COVID-19 pathophysiology in endothelial cells, including the analysis of SARS-CoV-2 interactions with endothelial function, leukocyte recruitment, and platelet activation. "Personalization" could be implemented in the models through induced pluripotent stem cells, patient-specific characteristics, or genetic modified cells. Adaptation for massive testing under standardized protocols is now possible, so the chips could be incorporated for the personalized follow-up of the disease or its sequalae (long COVID) and for the research of new drugs against COVID-19.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Oksana Shevchuk
- Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology, I. Horbachevsky Ternopil National Medical University, 46001 Ternopil, Ukraine
| | - Svitlana Palii
- Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology, I. Horbachevsky Ternopil National Medical University, 46001 Ternopil, Ukraine
| | - Anastasiia Pak
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, I. Horbachevsky Ternopil National Medical University, 46001 Ternopil, Ukraine
| | - Nuria Chantada
- Departamento de Farmacología, Farmacia y Tecnología Farmacéutica, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Nuria Seoane
- Physiology and Pharmacology of Chronic Diseases (FIFAEC) Center for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CiMUS), University of Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Mykhaylo Korda
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, I. Horbachevsky Ternopil National Medical University, 46001 Ternopil, Ukraine
| | - Manuel Campos-Toimil
- Departamento de Farmacología, Farmacia y Tecnología Farmacéutica, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- Physiology and Pharmacology of Chronic Diseases (FIFAEC) Center for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CiMUS), University of Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Ezequiel Álvarez
- Departamento de Farmacología, Farmacia y Tecnología Farmacéutica, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago de Compostela (CHUS), SERGAS, Travesía da Choupana s/n, 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- CIBERCV, Institute of Health Carlos III, 28220 Madrid, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Palasantzas VEJM, Tamargo-Rubio I, Le K, Slager J, Wijmenga C, Jonkers IH, Kumar V, Fu J, Withoff S. iPSC-derived organ-on-a-chip models for personalized human genetics and pharmacogenomics studies. Trends Genet 2023; 39:268-284. [PMID: 36746737 DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2023.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Revised: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have now correlated hundreds of genetic variants with complex genetic diseases and drug efficacy. Functional characterization of these factors remains challenging, particularly because of the lack of human model systems. Molecular and nanotechnological advances, in particular the ability to generate patient-specific PSC lines, differentiate them into diverse cell types, and seed and combine them on microfluidic chips, have led to the establishment of organ-on-a-chip (OoC) platforms that recapitulate organ biology. OoC technology thus provides unique personalized platforms for studying the effects of host genetics and environmental factors on organ physiology. In this review we describe the technology and provide examples of how OoCs may be used for disease modeling and pharmacogenetic research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Victoria E J M Palasantzas
- Department of Genetics, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands; Department of Pediatrics, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Isabel Tamargo-Rubio
- Department of Genetics, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Kieu Le
- Department of Genetics, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Jelle Slager
- Department of Genetics, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Cisca Wijmenga
- Department of Genetics, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Iris H Jonkers
- Department of Genetics, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Vinod Kumar
- Department of Genetics, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands; Department of Internal Medicine and Radboud Centre for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Jingyuan Fu
- Department of Genetics, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands; Department of Pediatrics, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Sebo Withoff
- Department of Genetics, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Morelli M, Kurek D, Ng CP, Queiroz K. Gut-on-a-Chip Models: Current and Future Perspectives for Host-Microbial Interactions Research. Biomedicines 2023; 11:biomedicines11020619. [PMID: 36831155 PMCID: PMC9953162 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11020619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2023] [Revised: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The intestine contains the largest microbial community in the human body, the gut microbiome. Increasing evidence suggests that it plays a crucial role in maintaining overall health. However, while many studies have found a correlation between certain diseases and changes in the microbiome, the impact of different microbial compositions on the gut and the mechanisms by which they contribute to disease are not well understood. Traditional pre-clinical models, such as cell culture or animal models, are limited in their ability to mimic the complexity of human physiology. New mechanistic models, such as organ-on-a-chip, are being developed to address this issue. These models provide a more accurate representation of human physiology and could help bridge the gap between clinical and pre-clinical studies. Gut-on-chip models allow researchers to better understand the underlying mechanisms of disease and the effect of different microbial compositions on the gut. They can help to move the field from correlation to causation and accelerate the development of new treatments for diseases associated with changes in the gut microbiome. This review will discuss current and future perspectives of gut-on-chip models to study host-microbial interactions.
Collapse
|
24
|
Ehlers H, Nicolas A, Schavemaker F, Heijmans JPM, Bulst M, Trietsch SJ, van den Broek LJ. Vascular inflammation on a chip: A scalable platform for trans-endothelial electrical resistance and immune cell migration. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1118624. [PMID: 36761747 PMCID: PMC9903066 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1118624] [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: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The vasculature system plays a critical role in inflammation processes in the body. Vascular inflammatory mechanisms are characterized by disruption of blood vessel wall permeability together with increased immune cell recruitment and migration. There is a critical need to develop models that fully recapitulate changes in vascular barrier permeability in response to inflammatory conditions. We developed a scalable platform for parallel measurements of trans epithelial electrical resistance (TEER) in 64 perfused microfluidic HUVEC tubules under inflammatory conditions. Over 250 tubules where exposed to Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) and interferon gamma (INF-γ) or human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. The inflammatory response was quantified based on changes TEER and expression of ICAM and VE-cadherin. We observed changes in barrier function in the presence of both inflammatory cytokines and human peripheral blood mononuclear cells, characterized by decreased TEER values, increase in ICAM expression as well changes in endothelial morphology. OrganoPlate 3-lane64 based HUVEC tubules provide a valuable tool for inflammatory studies in an automation compatible manner. Continuous TEER measurements enable long term, sensitive assays for barrier studies. We propose the use of our platform as a powerful tool for modelling endothelial inflammation in combination with immune cell interaction that can be used to screen targets and drugs to treat chronic vascular inflammation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Haley Ehlers
- Mimetas B.V., Leiden, Netherlands,Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Arnaud Nicolas
- Mimetas B.V., Leiden, Netherlands,Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
25
|
Geyer M, Gaul LM, D`Agosto SL, Corbo V, Queiroz K. The tumor stroma influences immune cell distribution and recruitment in a PDAC-on-a-chip model. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1155085. [PMID: 37205118 PMCID: PMC10185841 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1155085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The dense tumor stroma of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and its secreted immune active molecules provide a barrier for chemotherapy treatment as well as for immune cell infiltration to the tumor core, providing a challenge for immunotherapeutic strategies. Consequently, the investigation of processes underlying the interaction between the tumor stroma, particularly activated pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs), and immune cells may offer new therapeutic approaches for PDAC treatment. In this study, we established a 3D PDAC model cultured under flow, consisting of an endothelial tube, PSCs and PDAC organoids. This was applied to study the role of the tumor microenvironment (TME) on immune cell recruitment and its effect on partly preventing their interaction with pancreatic cancer cells. We observed that stromal cells form a physical barrier, partly shielding the cancer cells from migrating immune cells, as well as a biochemical microenvironment, that seems to attract and influence immune cell distribution. In addition, stromal targeting by Halofuginone led to an increase in immune cell infiltration. We propose that the here developed model setups will support the understanding of the cellular interplay influencing the recruitment and distribution of immune cells, and contribute to the identification of key players in the PDAC immunosuppressive TME as well as support the discovery of new strategies to treat this immune unresponsive tumor.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Vincenzo Corbo
- Department of Diagnostic and Public Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Karla Queiroz
- Mimetas B.V., Oegstgeest, Netherlands
- *Correspondence: Karla Queiroz,
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Ngan Ngo TK, Kuo CH, Tu TY. Recent advances in microfluidic-based cancer immunotherapy-on-a-chip strategies. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2023; 17:011501. [PMID: 36647540 PMCID: PMC9840534 DOI: 10.1063/5.0108792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Despite several extraordinary improvements in cancer immunotherapy, its therapeutic effectiveness against many distinct cancer types remains mostly limited and requires further study. Different microfluidic-based cancer immunotherapy-on-a-chip (ITOC) systems have been developed to help researchers replicate the tumor microenvironment and immune system. Numerous microfluidic platforms can potentially be used to perform various on-chip activities related to early clinical cancer immunotherapy processes, such as improving immune checkpoint blockade therapy, studying immune cell dynamics, evaluating cytotoxicity, and creating vaccines or organoid models from patient samples. In this review, we summarize the most recent advancements in the development of various microfluidic-based ITOC devices for cancer treatment niches and present future perspectives on microfluidic devices for immunotherapy research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Thi Kim Ngan Ngo
- Biomedical Engineering Department, College of Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70101, Taiwan
| | - Cheng-Hsiang Kuo
- International Center for Wound Repair and Regeneration, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70101, Taiwan
| | - Ting-Yuan Tu
- Author to whom correspondence should be addressed:
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
McCloskey MC, Zhang VZ, Ahmad SD, Walker S, Romanick SS, Awad HA, McGrath JL. Sourcing cells for in vitro models of human vascular barriers of inflammation. FRONTIERS IN MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY 2022; 4:979768. [PMID: 36483299 PMCID: PMC9724237 DOI: 10.3389/fmedt.2022.979768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 07/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The vascular system plays a critical role in the progression and resolution of inflammation. The contributions of the vascular endothelium to these processes, however, vary with tissue and disease state. Recently, tissue chip models have emerged as promising tools to understand human disease and for the development of personalized medicine approaches. Inclusion of a vascular component within these platforms is critical for properly evaluating most diseases, but many models to date use "generic" endothelial cells, which can preclude the identification of biomedically meaningful pathways and mechanisms. As the knowledge of vascular heterogeneity and immune cell trafficking throughout the body advances, tissue chip models should also advance to incorporate tissue-specific cells where possible. Here, we discuss the known heterogeneity of leukocyte trafficking in vascular beds of some commonly modeled tissues. We comment on the availability of different tissue-specific cell sources for endothelial cells and pericytes, with a focus on stem cell sources for the full realization of personalized medicine. We discuss sources available for the immune cells needed to model inflammatory processes and the findings of tissue chip models that have used the cells to studying transmigration.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Molly C. McCloskey
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, United States
| | - Victor Z. Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, United States
- Center for Musculoskeletal Research, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States
| | - S. Danial Ahmad
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, United States
| | - Samuel Walker
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, United States
| | - Samantha S. Romanick
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, United States
| | - Hani A. Awad
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, United States
- Center for Musculoskeletal Research, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States
- Department of Orthopaedics, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States
| | - James L. McGrath
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, United States
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Boosting the Clinical Translation of Organ-on-a-Chip Technology. BIOENGINEERING (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 9:bioengineering9100549. [PMID: 36290517 PMCID: PMC9598310 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering9100549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Revised: 10/02/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Organ-on-a-chip devices have become a viable option for investigating critical physiological events and responses; this technology has matured substantially, and many systems have been reported for disease modeling or drug screening over the last decade. Despite the wide acceptance in the academic community, their adoption by clinical end-users is still a non-accomplished promise. The reasons behind this difficulty can be very diverse but most likely are related to the lack of predictive power, physiological relevance, and reliability necessary for being utilized in the clinical area. In this Perspective, we briefly discuss the main attributes of organ-on-a-chip platforms in academia and how these characteristics impede their easy translation to the clinic. We also discuss how academia, in conjunction with the industry, can contribute to boosting their adoption by proposing novel design concepts, fabrication methods, processes, and manufacturing materials, improving their standardization and versatility, and simplifying their manipulation and reusability.
Collapse
|
29
|
Zhang J, Tavakoli H, Ma L, Li X, Han L, Li X. Immunotherapy discovery on tumor organoid-on-a-chip platforms that recapitulate the tumor microenvironment. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2022; 187:114365. [PMID: 35667465 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2022.114365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2022] [Revised: 04/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Cancer immunotherapy has achieved remarkable success over the past decade by modulating patients' own immune systems and unleashing pre-existing immunity. However, only a minority of cancer patients across different cancer types are able to benefit from immunotherapy treatment; moreover, among those small portions of patients with response, intrinsic and acquired resistance remains a persistent challenge. Because the tumor microenvironment (TME) is well recognized to play a critical role in tumor initiation, progression, metastasis, and the suppression of the immune system and responses to immunotherapy, understanding the interactions between the TME and the immune system is a pivotal step in developing novel and efficient cancer immunotherapies. With unique features such as low reagent consumption, dynamic and precise fluid control, versatile structures and function designs, and 3D cell co-culture, microfluidic tumor organoid-on-a-chip platforms that recapitulate key factors of the TME and the immune contexture have emerged as innovative reliable tools to investigate how tumors regulate their TME to counteract antitumor immunity and the mechanism of tumor resistance to immunotherapy. In this comprehensive review, we focus on recent advances in tumor organoid-on-a-chip platforms for studying the interaction between the TME and the immune system. We first review different factors of the TME that recent microfluidic in vitro systems reproduce to generate advanced tools to imitate the crosstalk between the TME and the immune system. Then, we discuss their applications in the assessment of different immunotherapies' efficacy using tumor organoid-on-a-chip platforms. Finally, we present an overview and the outlook of engineered microfluidic platforms in investigating the interactions between cancer and immune systems, and the adoption of patient-on-a-chip models in clinical applications toward personalized immunotherapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jie Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Texas at El Paso, 500 W University Ave., El Paso, TX 79968, USA
| | - Hamed Tavakoli
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Texas at El Paso, 500 W University Ave., El Paso, TX 79968, USA
| | - Lei Ma
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Texas at El Paso, 500 W University Ave., El Paso, TX 79968, USA
| | - Xiaochun Li
- College of Biomedical Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan 030024, China
| | - Lichun Han
- Xi'an Daxing Hospital, Xi'an 710016, China
| | - XiuJun Li
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Texas at El Paso, 500 W University Ave., El Paso, TX 79968, USA; Border Biomedical Research Center, Forensic Science, & Environmental Science and Engineering, University of Texas at El Paso, 500 West University Ave., El Paso, TX 79968, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
In Vitro Human Cancer Models for Biomedical Applications. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14092284. [PMID: 35565413 PMCID: PMC9099454 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14092284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Revised: 04/16/2022] [Accepted: 04/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide. While numerous studies have been conducted on cancer treatment, clinical treatment options for cancers are still limited. To date, animal cancer models for cancer therapeutic studies have faced multiple challenges, including inaccuracy in the representation of human cancers, high cost and ethical concerns. Therefore, lab-grown human cancer models are being developed quickly to fulfill the increasing demand for more relevant models in order to improve knowledge of human cancers and to find novel treatments. This review summarizes the development of lab-grown human cancer models for biomedical applications, including cancer therapeutic development, assessment of human tumor biology and discovery of key cancer markers. Abstract Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, and its incidence is steadily increasing. Although years of research have been conducted on cancer treatment, clinical treatment options for cancers are still limited. Animal cancer models have been widely used for studies of cancer therapeutics, but these models have been associated with many concerns, including inaccuracy in the representation of human cancers, high cost and ethical issues. Therefore, in vitro human cancer models are being developed quickly to fulfill the increasing demand for more relevant models in order to get a better knowledge of human cancers and to find novel treatments. This review summarizes the development of in vitro human cancer models for biomedical applications. We first review the latest development in the field by detailing various types of in vitro human cancer models, including transwell-based models, tumor spheroids, microfluidic tumor-microvascular systems and scaffold-based models. The advantages and limitations of each model, as well as their biomedical applications, are summarized, including therapeutic development, assessment of tumor cell migration, metastasis and invasion and discovery of key cancer markers. Finally, the existing challenges and future perspectives are briefly discussed.
Collapse
|
31
|
Ronaldson-Bouchard K, Baldassarri I, Tavakol DN, Graney PL, Samaritano M, Cimetta E, Vunjak-Novakovic G. Engineering complexity in human tissue models of cancer. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2022; 184:114181. [PMID: 35278521 PMCID: PMC9035134 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2022.114181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Revised: 02/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Major progress in the understanding and treatment of cancer have tremendously improved our knowledge of this complex disease and improved the length and quality of patients' lives. Still, major challenges remain, in particular with respect to cancer metastasis which still escapes effective treatment and remains responsible for 90% of cancer related deaths. In recent years, the advances in cancer cell biology, oncology and tissue engineering converged into the engineered human tissue models of cancer that are increasingly recapitulating many aspects of cancer progression and response to drugs, in a patient-specific context. The complexity and biological fidelity of these models, as well as the specific questions they aim to investigate, vary in a very broad range. When selecting and designing these experimental models, the fundamental question is "how simple is complex enough" to accomplish a specific goal of cancer research. Here we review the state of the art in developing and using the human tissue models in cancer research and developmental drug screening. We describe the main classes of models providing different levels of biological fidelity and complexity, discuss their advantages and limitations, and propose a framework for designing an appropriate model for a given study. We close by outlining some of the current needs, opportunities and challenges in this rapidly evolving field.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kacey Ronaldson-Bouchard
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, 622 West 168th Street, VC12-234, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Ilaria Baldassarri
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, 622 West 168th Street, VC12-234, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Daniel Naveed Tavakol
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, 622 West 168th Street, VC12-234, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Pamela L Graney
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, 622 West 168th Street, VC12-234, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Maria Samaritano
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, 622 West 168th Street, VC12-234, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Elisa Cimetta
- Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Padua, Via Marzolo 9, 35131 Padova, Italy; Fondazione Istituto di Ricerca Pediatrica Città della Speranza, Corso Stati Uniti 4, 35127 Padova, Italy
| | - Gordana Vunjak-Novakovic
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, 622 West 168th Street, VC12-234, New York, NY 10032, USA; Department of Medicine, Columbia University, 622 West 168th Street, VC12-234, New York, NY 10032, USA; College of Dental Medicine, Columbia University, 622 West 168th Street, VC12-234, New York, NY 10032, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Marei I, Abu Samaan T, Al-Quradaghi MA, Farah AA, Mahmud SH, Ding H, Triggle CR. 3D Tissue-Engineered Vascular Drug Screening Platforms: Promise and Considerations. Front Cardiovasc Med 2022; 9:847554. [PMID: 35310996 PMCID: PMC8931492 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2022.847554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the efforts devoted to drug discovery and development, the number of new drug approvals have been decreasing. Specifically, cardiovascular developments have been showing amongst the lowest levels of approvals. In addition, concerns over the adverse effects of drugs to the cardiovascular system have been increasing and resulting in failure at the preclinical level as well as withdrawal of drugs post-marketing. Besides factors such as the increased cost of clinical trials and increases in the requirements and the complexity of the regulatory processes, there is also a gap between the currently existing pre-clinical screening methods and the clinical studies in humans. This gap is mainly caused by the lack of complexity in the currently used 2D cell culture-based screening systems, which do not accurately reflect human physiological conditions. Cell-based drug screening is widely accepted and extensively used and can provide an initial indication of the drugs' therapeutic efficacy and potential cytotoxicity. However, in vitro cell-based evaluation could in many instances provide contradictory findings to the in vivo testing in animal models and clinical trials. This drawback is related to the failure of these 2D cell culture systems to recapitulate the human physiological microenvironment in which the cells reside. In the body, cells reside within a complex physiological setting, where they interact with and respond to neighboring cells, extracellular matrix, mechanical stress, blood shear stress, and many other factors. These factors in sum affect the cellular response and the specific pathways that regulate variable vital functions such as proliferation, apoptosis, and differentiation. Although pre-clinical in vivo animal models provide this level of complexity, cross species differences can also cause contradictory results from that seen when the drug enters clinical trials. Thus, there is a need to better mimic human physiological conditions in pre-clinical studies to improve the efficiency of drug screening. A novel approach is to develop 3D tissue engineered miniaturized constructs in vitro that are based on human cells. In this review, we discuss the factors that should be considered to produce a successful vascular construct that is derived from human cells and is both reliable and reproducible.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Isra Marei
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Doha, Qatar
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- *Correspondence: Isra Marei
| | - Tala Abu Samaan
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Doha, Qatar
| | | | - Asmaa A. Farah
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Doha, Qatar
| | | | - Hong Ding
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Doha, Qatar
| | - Chris R. Triggle
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Doha, Qatar
- Chris R. Triggle
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Wevers NR, Nair AL, Fowke TM, Pontier M, Kasi DG, Spijkers XM, Hallard C, Rabussier G, van Vught R, Vulto P, de Vries HE, Lanz HL. Modeling ischemic stroke in a triculture neurovascular unit on-a-chip. Fluids Barriers CNS 2021; 18:59. [PMID: 34906183 PMCID: PMC8670153 DOI: 10.1186/s12987-021-00294-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In ischemic stroke, the function of the cerebral vasculature is impaired. This vascular structure is formed by the so-called neurovascular unit (NVU). A better understanding of the mechanisms involved in NVU dysfunction and recovery may lead to new insights for the development of highly sought therapeutic approaches. To date, there remains an unmet need for complex human in vitro models of the NVU to study ischemic events seen in the human brain. METHODS We here describe the development of a human NVU on-a-chip model using a platform that allows culture of 40 chips in parallel. The model comprises a perfused vessel of primary human brain endothelial cells in co-culture with induced pluripotent stem cell derived astrocytes and neurons. Ischemic stroke was mimicked using a threefold approach that combines chemical hypoxia, hypoglycemia, and halted perfusion. RESULTS Immunofluorescent staining confirmed expression of endothelial adherens and tight junction proteins, as well as astrocytic and neuronal markers. In addition, the model expresses relevant brain endothelial transporters and shows spontaneous neuronal firing. The NVU on-a-chip model demonstrates tight barrier function, evidenced by retention of small molecule sodium fluorescein in its lumen. Exposure to the toxic compound staurosporine disrupted the endothelial barrier, causing reduced transepithelial electrical resistance and increased permeability to sodium fluorescein. Under stroke mimicking conditions, brain endothelial cells showed strongly reduced barrier function (35-fold higher apparent permeability) and 7.3-fold decreased mitochondrial potential. Furthermore, levels of adenosine triphosphate were significantly reduced on both the blood- and the brain side of the model (4.8-fold and 11.7-fold reduction, respectively). CONCLUSIONS The NVU on-a-chip model presented here can be used for fundamental studies of NVU function in stroke and other neurological diseases and for investigation of potential restorative therapies to fight neurological disorders. Due to the platform's relatively high throughput and compatibility with automation, the model holds potential for drug compound screening.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nienke R Wevers
- MIMETAS BV, Leiden, The Netherlands. .,Department of Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology, Amsterdam UMC, Location VUmc, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Arya Lekshmi Nair
- MIMETAS BV, Leiden, The Netherlands.,Department of Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology, Amsterdam UMC, Location VUmc, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | | | | | - Xandor M Spijkers
- MIMETAS BV, Leiden, The Netherlands.,Department of Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | | | - Gwenaëlle Rabussier
- MIMETAS BV, Leiden, The Netherlands.,CARIM School of Cardiovascular Diseases, Faculty of Health, Medicine, and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | | | | | - Helga E de Vries
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology, Amsterdam UMC, Location VUmc, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | | |
Collapse
|