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Mao M, Meng Z, He J, Li D. Microphysiological systems inspired by leaf venation. Trends Biotechnol 2024:S0167-7799(24)00092-1. [PMID: 38643041 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2024.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2024] [Revised: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/22/2024]
Abstract
Nature-inspired microfluidic networks are revolutionizing microphysiological systems, allowing for the precise emulation of human physiology. This article delves into the fabrication techniques of leaf-venation-inspired (LVI) microfluidic networks and explores their transformative applications in organ-on-a-chip and tissue engineering, showcasing their pivotal role in advancing biomedical research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mao Mao
- State Key Laboratory for Manufacturing Systems Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, P.R. China; National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Additive Manufacturing Medical Devices, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, P.R. China; National Innovation Platform (Center) for Industry-Education Integration of Medical Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, P.R. China
| | - Zijie Meng
- State Key Laboratory for Manufacturing Systems Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, P.R. China; National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Additive Manufacturing Medical Devices, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, P.R. China; National Innovation Platform (Center) for Industry-Education Integration of Medical Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, P.R. China; National Innovation Institute of Additive Manufacturing, Xi'an 710000, P.R. China
| | - Jiankang He
- State Key Laboratory for Manufacturing Systems Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, P.R. China; National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Additive Manufacturing Medical Devices, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, P.R. China; National Innovation Platform (Center) for Industry-Education Integration of Medical Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, P.R. China.
| | - Dichen Li
- State Key Laboratory for Manufacturing Systems Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, P.R. China; National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Additive Manufacturing Medical Devices, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, P.R. China; National Innovation Platform (Center) for Industry-Education Integration of Medical Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, P.R. China
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Mohan MD, Latifi N, Flick R, Simmons CA, Young EWK. Interrogating Matrix Stiffness and Metabolomics in Pancreatic Ductal Carcinoma Using an Openable Microfluidic Tumor-on-a-Chip. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 2024. [PMID: 38606850 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.4c00556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is characterized by a dense fibrotic stroma that contributes to aggressive tumor biology and therapeutic resistance. Current in vitro PDAC models lack sufficient optical and physical access for fibrous network visualization, in situ mechanical stiffness measurement, and metabolomic profiling. Here, we describe an openable multilayer microfluidic PDAC-on-a-chip platform that consists of pancreatic tumor cells (PTCs) and pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) embedded in a 3D collagen matrix that mimics the stroma. Our system allows fibrous network visualization via reflected light confocal (RLC) microscopy, in situ mechanical stiffness testing using atomic force microscopy (AFM), and compartmentalized hydrogel extraction for PSC metabolomic profiling via mass spectrometry (MS) analysis. In comparing cocultures of gel-embedded PSCs and PTCs with PSC-only monocultures, RLC microscopy identified a significant decrease in pore size and corresponding increase in fiber density. In situ AFM indicated significant increases in stiffness, and hallmark characteristics of PSC activation were observed using fluorescence microscopy. PSCs in coculture also demonstrated localized fiber alignment and densification as well as increased collagen production. Finally, an untargeted MS study putatively identified metabolic contributions consistent with in vivo PDAC studies. Taken together, this platform can potentially advance our understanding of tumor-stromal interactions toward the discovery of novel therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael D Mohan
- Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, 5 King's College Road, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G8, Canada
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, 164 College Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3E2, Canada
| | - Neda Latifi
- Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, 5 King's College Road, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G8, Canada
- Translational Biology and Engineering Program, Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research, 661 University Avenue, 14th Floor, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1M1, Canada
- Department of Medical Engineering, University of South Florida, 4202 E. Fowler Avenue, ENG 030, Tampa, Florida 33620, United States
| | - Robert Flick
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, 200 College Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3E5, Canada
| | - Craig A Simmons
- Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, 5 King's College Road, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G8, Canada
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, 164 College Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3E2, Canada
- Translational Biology and Engineering Program, Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research, 661 University Avenue, 14th Floor, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1M1, Canada
| | - Edmond W K Young
- Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, 5 King's College Road, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G8, Canada
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, 164 College Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3E2, Canada
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Ponmozhi J, Dhinakaran S, Kocsis D, Iván K, Erdő F. Models for barrier understanding in health and disease in lab-on-a-chips. Tissue Barriers 2024; 12:2221632. [PMID: 37294075 DOI: 10.1080/21688370.2023.2221632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The maintenance of body homeostasis relies heavily on physiological barriers. Dysfunction of these barriers can lead to various pathological processes, including increased exposure to toxic materials and microorganisms. Various methods exist to investigate barrier function in vivo and in vitro. To investigate barrier function in a highly reproducible manner, ethically, and high throughput, researchers have turned to non-animal techniques and micro-scale technologies. In this comprehensive review, the authors summarize the current applications of organ-on-a-chip microfluidic devices in the study of physiological barriers. The review covers the blood-brain barrier, ocular barriers, dermal barrier, respiratory barriers, intestinal, hepatobiliary, and renal/bladder barriers under both healthy and pathological conditions. The article then briefly presents placental/vaginal, and tumour/multi-organ barriers in organ-on-a-chip devices. Finally, the review discusses Computational Fluid Dynamics in microfluidic systems that integrate biological barriers. This article provides a concise yet informative overview of the current state-of-the-art in barrier studies using microfluidic devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Ponmozhi
- Microfluidics Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering, IPS Academy-Institute of Engineering Science, Indore, India
| | - S Dhinakaran
- The Centre for Fluid Dynamics, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Indore, Indore, India
| | - Dorottya Kocsis
- Faculty of Information Technology and Bionics, Pázmány Péter Catholic University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Kristóf Iván
- Faculty of Information Technology and Bionics, Pázmány Péter Catholic University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Franciska Erdő
- Faculty of Information Technology and Bionics, Pázmány Péter Catholic University, Budapest, Hungary
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Dilmen E, Orhon I, Jansen J, Hoenderop JGJ. Advancements in kidney organoids and tubuloids to study (dys)function. Trends Cell Biol 2024; 34:299-311. [PMID: 37865608 DOI: 10.1016/j.tcb.2023.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Revised: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/23/2023]
Abstract
The rising prevalence of kidney diseases urges the need for novel therapies. Kidney organoids and tubuloids are advanced in vitro models and have recently been described as promising tools to study kidney (patho)physiology. Recent developments have shown their application in disease modeling, drug screening, and nephrotoxicity. These applications rely on their ability to mimic (dys)function in vitro including endocrine activity and drug, electrolyte, and water transport. This review provides an overview of these emerging kidney models and focuses on the most recent developments that utilize their functional capabilities. In addition, we cover current limitations and provide future perspectives for this rapidly evolving field, including what these functional properties mean for translational and personalized medicine now and in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Dilmen
- Department of Medical BioSciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - I Orhon
- Department of Medical BioSciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - J Jansen
- Department of Internal Medicine, Nephrology, and Transplantation, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Institute of Experimental Medicine and Systems Biology, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - J G J Hoenderop
- Department of Medical BioSciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
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Khanna A, Oropeza BP, Huang NF. Cardiovascular human organ-on-a-chip platform for disease modeling, drug development, and personalized therapy. J Biomed Mater Res A 2024; 112:512-523. [PMID: 37668192 DOI: 10.1002/jbm.a.37602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Revised: 07/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023]
Abstract
Cardiovascular organ-on-a-chip (OoC) devices are composed of engineered or native functional tissues that are cultured under controlled microenvironments inside microchips. These systems employ microfabrication and tissue engineering techniques to recapitulate human physiology. This review focuses on human OoC systems to model cardiovascular diseases, to perform drug screening, and to advance personalized medicine. We also address the challenges in the generation of organ chips that can revolutionize the large-scale application of these systems for drug development and personalized therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Beu P Oropeza
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
- Center for Tissue Regeneration, Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, California, USA
| | - Ngan F Huang
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
- Center for Tissue Regeneration, Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, California, USA
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
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van Aken GA. Computer modeling of digestive processes in the alimentary tract and their physiological regulation mechanisms: closing the gap between digestion models and in vivo behavior. Front Nutr 2024; 11:1339711. [PMID: 38606020 PMCID: PMC11007706 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2024.1339711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction A model has been developed for in silico simulation of digestion and its physiological feedback mechanisms. Methods The model is based on known physiology described in the literature and is able to describe the complexity of many simultaneous processes related to food digestion. Results Despite the early stage of development of the model, it already encompasses a large number of processes that occur simultaneously, enabling the prediction of a large number of post-prandial physiological markers, which can be highly functional in combination with in vitro, organ-on-a-chip and digital twin models purposed to measure the physiological properties of organs and to predict the effect of adjusted food composition in normal and diseased states. Discussion Input from and collaboration between science fileds is needed to further develop and refine the model and to connect with in vitro, in vivo, and ex vivo (organ-on-a-chip) models.
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Scheidecker B, Poulain S, Sugimoto M, Kido T, Kawanishi T, Miyajima A, Kim SH, Arakawa H, Kato Y, Nishikawa M, Danoy M, Sakai Y, Leclerc E. Dynamic, IPSC-derived hepatic tissue tri-culture system for the evaluation of liver physiology in vitro. Biofabrication 2024; 16:025037. [PMID: 38447229 DOI: 10.1088/1758-5090/ad30c5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
Availability of hepatic tissue for the investigation of metabolic processes is severely limited. While primary hepatocytes or animal models are widely used in pharmacological applications, a change in methodology towards more sustainable and ethical assays is highly desirable. Stem cell derived hepatic cells are generally regarded as a viable alternative for the above model systems, if current limitations in functionality and maturation can be overcome. By combining microfluidic organ-on-a-chip technology with individually differentiated, multicellular hepatic tissue fractions, we aim to improve overall functionality of hepatocyte-like cells, as well as evaluate cellular composition and interactions with non-parenchymal cell populations towards the formation of mature liver tissue. Utilizing a multi-omic approach, we show the improved maturation profiles of hepatocyte-like cells maintained in a dynamic microenvironment compared to standard tissue culture setups without continuous perfusion. In order to evaluate the resulting tissue, we employ single cell sequencing to distinguish formed subpopulations and spatial localization. While cellular input was strictly defined based on established differentiation protocols of parenchyma, endothelial and stellate cell fractions, resulting hepatic tissue was shown to comprise a complex mixture of epithelial and non-parenchymal fractions with specific local enrichment of phenotypes along the microchannel. Following this approach, we show the importance of passive, paracrine developmental processes in tissue formation. Using such complex tissue models is a crucial first step to develop stem cell-derivedin vitrosystems that can compare functionally with currently used pharmacological and toxicological applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benedikt Scheidecker
- CNRS UMI 2820, Institute of Industrial Science, University of Tokyo, 153-8505 Tokyo, Japan
| | - Stéphane Poulain
- Institute of Industrial Science, University of Tokyo, 153-8505 Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masahiro Sugimoto
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Keio University, 997-0035 Yamagata, Japan
- Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo Medical University, 160-8402 Tokyo, Japan
| | - Taketomo Kido
- Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, University of Tokyo, 113-0032 Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takumi Kawanishi
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kanazawa University, 920-1102 Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Atsushi Miyajima
- Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, University of Tokyo, 113-0032 Tokyo, Japan
| | - Soo Hyeon Kim
- Institute of Industrial Science, University of Tokyo, 153-8505 Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Arakawa
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kanazawa University, 920-1102 Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Yukio Kato
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kanazawa University, 920-1102 Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Masaki Nishikawa
- Department of Chemical System Engineering, University of Tokyo, 113-8654 Tokyo, Japan
| | - Mathieu Danoy
- Department of Chemical System Engineering, University of Tokyo, 113-8654 Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yasuyuki Sakai
- Department of Chemical System Engineering, University of Tokyo, 113-8654 Tokyo, Japan
| | - Eric Leclerc
- CNRS UMI 2820, Institute of Industrial Science, University of Tokyo, 153-8505 Tokyo, Japan
- CNRS UMR 7338, Laboratoire de Biomécanique et Bioingénierie, Université de Technologies de Compiègne, 60203 Compiègne, France
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Mani S, Garifallou J, Kim SJ, Simoni MK, Huh DD, Gordon SM, Mainigi M. Uterine macrophages and NK cells exhibit population and gene-level changes after implantation but maintain pro-invasive properties. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1364036. [PMID: 38566989 PMCID: PMC10985329 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1364036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Prior to pregnancy, hormonal changes lead to cellular adaptations in the endometrium allowing for embryo implantation. Critical for successful pregnancy establishment, innate immune cells constitute a significant proportion of uterine cells prior to arrival of the embryo and throughout the first trimester in humans and animal models. Abnormal uterine immune cell function during implantation is believed to play a role in multiple adverse pregnancy outcomes. Current work in humans has focused on uterine immune cells present after pregnancy establishment, and limited in vitro models exist to explore unique functions of these cells. Methods With single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNAseq), we comprehensively compared the human uterine immune landscape of the endometrium during the window of implantation and the decidua during the first trimester of pregnancy. Results We uncovered global and cell-type-specific gene signatures for each timepoint. Immune cells in the endometrium prior to implantation expressed genes associated with immune metabolism, division, and activation. In contrast, we observed widespread interferon signaling during the first trimester of pregnancy. We also provide evidence of specific inflammatory pathways enriched in pre- and post-implantation macrophages and natural killer (NK) cells in the uterine lining. Using our novel implantation-on-a-chip (IOC) to model human implantation ex vivo, we demonstrate for the first time that uterine macrophages strongly promote invasion of extravillous trophoblasts (EVTs), a process essential for pregnancy establishment. Pre- and post-implantation uterine macrophages promoted EVT invasion to a similar degree as pre- and post-implantation NK cells on the IOC. Conclusions This work provides a foundation for further investigation of the individual roles of uterine immune cell subtypes present prior to embryo implantation and during early pregnancy, which will be critical for our understanding of pregnancy complications associated with abnormal trophoblast invasion and placentation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sneha Mani
- Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - James Garifallou
- Division of Neonatology, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Se-jeong Kim
- Department of Bioengineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Michael K. Simoni
- Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Dan Dongeun Huh
- Department of Bioengineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- National Science Foundation (NSF) Science and Technology Center for Engineering Mechanobiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Scott M. Gordon
- Division of Neonatology, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Monica Mainigi
- Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States
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Wang Y, Yung P, Lu G, Liu Y, Ding C, Mao C, Li ZA, Tuan RS. Musculoskeletal Organs-on-chips: An Emerging Platform for Studying the Nanotechnology-Biology Interface. Adv Mater 2024:e2401334. [PMID: 38491868 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202401334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2024] [Revised: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024]
Abstract
Nanotechnology-based approaches are promising for the treatment of musculoskeletal (MSK) disorders, which present significant clinical burdens and challenges, but their clinical translation requires a deep understanding of the complex interplay between nanotechnology and MSK biology. Organ-on-a-chip (OoC) systems have emerged as an innovative and versatile microphysiological platform to replicate the dynamics of tissue microenvironment for studying nanotechnology-biology interactions. This review covers first recent advances and applications of MSK OoCs and their ability to mimic the biophysical and biochemical stimuli encountered by MSK tissues. Next, by integrating nanotechnology into MSK OoCs, cellular responses and tissue behaviors may be investigated by precisely controlling and manipulating the nanoscale environment. Analysis of MSK disease mechanisms, particularly bone, joint, and muscle tissue degeneration, and drug screening and development of personalized medicine may be greatly facilitated using MSK OoCs. Finally, we outline future challenges and directions for the field, including advanced sensing technologies, integration of immune-active components, and enhancement of biomimetic functionality. By highlighting the emerging applications of MSK OoCs, this review aims to advance our understanding of the intricate nanotechnology-MSK biology interface and its significance in MSK disease management, and the development of innovative and personalized therapeutic and interventional strategies. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuwen Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, NT, Hong Kong, P.R. China
| | - Patrick Yung
- Center for Neuromusculoskeletal Restorative Medicine, Hong Kong Science Park, NT, Hong Kong, P.R. China
- Department of Orthopaedics & Traumatology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, NT, Hong Kong, P.R. China
- Institute for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, NT, Hong Kong, P.R. China
| | - Gang Lu
- Center for Neuromusculoskeletal Restorative Medicine, Hong Kong Science Park, NT, Hong Kong, P.R. China
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, NT, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yuwei Liu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, NT, Hong Kong, P.R. China
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, P.R. China
| | - Changhai Ding
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, P.R. China
- Clinical Research Centre, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Chuanbin Mao
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, NT, Hong Kong, P.R. China
| | - Zhong Alan Li
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, NT, Hong Kong, P.R. China
- Center for Neuromusculoskeletal Restorative Medicine, Hong Kong Science Park, NT, Hong Kong, P.R. China
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, NT, Hong Kong, China
- Key Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine, Ministry of Education, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, P.R. China
- Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, P.R. China
| | - Rocky S Tuan
- Center for Neuromusculoskeletal Restorative Medicine, Hong Kong Science Park, NT, Hong Kong, P.R. China
- Department of Orthopaedics & Traumatology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, NT, Hong Kong, P.R. China
- Institute for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, NT, Hong Kong, P.R. China
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, NT, Hong Kong, China
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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] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [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.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lorna Ewart
- Department of Bioinnovations, Emulate Inc, Boston, MA, USA
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Cai X, Refaat A, Gan PY, Fan B, Yu H, Thang SH, Drummond CJ, Voelcker NH, Tran N, Zhai J. Angiopep-2-Functionalized Lipid Cubosomes for Blood-Brain Barrier Crossing and Glioblastoma Treatment. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 2024; 16:12161-12174. [PMID: 38416873 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c14709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/01/2024]
Abstract
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is an aggressive brain cancer with high malignancy and resistance to conventional treatments, resulting in a bleak prognosis. Nanoparticles offer a way to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and deliver precise therapies to tumor sites with reduced side effects. In this study, we developed angiopep-2 (Ang2)-functionalized lipid cubosomes loaded with cisplatin (CDDP) and temozolomide (TMZ) for crossing the BBB and providing targeted glioblastoma therapy. Developed lipid cubosomes showed a particle size of around 300 nm and possessed an internal ordered inverse primitive cubic phase, a high conjugation efficiency of Ang2 to the particle surface, and an encapsulation efficiency of more than 70% of CDDP and TMZ. In vitro models, including BBB hCMEC/D3 cell tight monolayer, 3D BBB cell spheroid, and microfluidic BBB/GBM-on-a-chip models with cocultured BBB and glioblastoma cells, were employed to study the efficiency of the developed cubosomes to cross the BBB and showed that Ang2-functionalized cubosomes can penetrate the BBB more effectively. Furthermore, Ang2-functionalized cubosomes showed significantly higher uptake by U87 glioblastoma cells, with a 3-fold increase observed in the BBB/GBM-on-a-chip model as compared to that of the bare cubosomes. Additionally, the in vivo biodistribution showed that Ang2 modification could significantly enhance the brain accumulation of cubosomes in comparison to that of non-functionalized particles. Moreover, CDDP-loaded Ang2-functionalized cubosomes presented an enhanced toxic effect on U87 spheroids. These findings suggest that the developed Ang2-cubosomes are prospective for improved BBB crossing and enhanced delivery of therapeutics to glioblastoma and are worth pursuing further as a potential application of nanomedicine for GBM treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xudong Cai
- School of Science, STEM College, RMIT University, Melbourne 3000, VIC, Australia
| | - Ahmed Refaat
- Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne 3052, VIC, Australia
| | - Poh-Yi Gan
- Department of Medicine, Centre for Inflammatory Diseases, Monash University, 246 Clayton Rd, Clayton 3168, VIC, Australia
| | - Bo Fan
- School of Chemistry, Monash University, Clayton 3800, VIC, Australia
| | - Haitao Yu
- School of Science, STEM College, RMIT University, Melbourne 3000, VIC, Australia
| | - San H Thang
- School of Chemistry, Monash University, Clayton 3800, VIC, Australia
| | - Calum J Drummond
- School of Science, STEM College, RMIT University, Melbourne 3000, VIC, Australia
| | - Nicolas H Voelcker
- Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne 3052, VIC, Australia
- Melbourne Centre for Nanofabrication, Victorian Node of the Australian National Fabrication Facility, Clayton 3168, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Materials Science & Engineering, Monash University, Clayton 3168, Victoria, Australia
| | - Nhiem Tran
- School of Science, STEM College, RMIT University, Melbourne 3000, VIC, Australia
| | - Jiali Zhai
- School of Science, STEM College, RMIT University, Melbourne 3000, VIC, Australia
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12
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Mancinelli E, Zushi N, Takuma M, Cheng Chau CC, Parpas G, Fujie T, Pensabene V. Porous Polymeric Nanofilms for Recreating the Basement Membrane in an Endothelial Barrier-on-Chip. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 2024; 16:13006-13017. [PMID: 38414331 PMCID: PMC10941076 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c16134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2023] [Revised: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
Organs-on-chips (OoCs) support an organotypic human cell culture in vitro. Precise representation of basement membranes (BMs) is critical for mimicking physiological functions of tissue interfaces. Artificial membranes in polyester (PES) and polycarbonate (PC) commonly used in in vitro models and OoCs do not replicate the characteristics of the natural BMs, such as submicrometric thickness, selective permeability, and elasticity. This study introduces porous poly(d,l-lactic acid) (PDLLA) nanofilms for replicating BMs in in vitro models and demonstrates their integration into microfluidic chips. Using roll-to-roll gravure coating and polymer phase separation, we fabricated transparent ∼200 nm thick PDLLA films. These nanofilms are 60 times thinner and 27 times more elastic than PES membranes and show uniformly distributed pores of controlled diameter (0.4 to 1.6 μm), which favor cell compartmentalization and exchange of large water-soluble molecules. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) on PDLLA nanofilms stretched across microchannels exhibited 97% viability, enhanced adhesion, and a higher proliferation rate compared to their performance on PES membranes and glass substrates. After 5 days of culture, HUVECs formed a functional barrier on suspended PDLLA nanofilms, confirmed by a more than 10-fold increase in transendothelial electrical resistance and blocked 150 kDa dextran diffusion. When integrated between two microfluidic channels and exposed to physiological shear stress, despite their ultrathin thickness, PDLLA nanofilms upheld their integrity and efficiently maintained separation of the channels. The successful formation of an adherent endothelium and the coculture of HUVECs and human astrocytes on either side of the suspended nanofilm validate it as an artificial BM for OoCs. Its submicrometric thickness guarantees intimate contact, a key feature to mimic the blood-brain barrier and to study paracrine signaling between the two cell types. In summary, porous PDLLA nanofilms hold the potential for improving the accuracy and physiological relevance of the OoC as in vitro models and drug discovery tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Mancinelli
- School
of Electronic and Electrical Engineering and Pollard Institute, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom
- Bragg
Centre for Materials Research, University
of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom
| | - Nanami Zushi
- School
of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute
of Technology, B-50, Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-ku, Yokohama 226-8501, Japan
| | - Megumi Takuma
- School
of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute
of Technology, B-50, Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-ku, Yokohama 226-8501, Japan
| | - Chalmers Chi Cheng Chau
- School
of Electronic and Electrical Engineering and Pollard Institute, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom
- Bragg
Centre for Materials Research, University
of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom
- School
of Molecular and Cellular Biology and Astbury Centre for Structural
Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom
| | - George Parpas
- School
of Electronic and Electrical Engineering and Pollard Institute, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom
- Bragg
Centre for Materials Research, University
of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom
- Leeds
Institute of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, United
Kingdom
| | - Toshinori Fujie
- School
of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute
of Technology, B-50, Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-ku, Yokohama 226-8501, Japan
- Living Systems
Materialogy (LiSM) Research Group, International Research Frontiers
Initiative (IRFI), Tokyo Institute of Technology, R3-23, 4259 Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-ku, Yokohama 226-8503, Japan
| | - Virginia Pensabene
- School
of Electronic and Electrical Engineering and Pollard Institute, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom
- Bragg
Centre for Materials Research, University
of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom
- Faculty
of Medicine and Health, Leeds Institute of Medical Research at St
James’s University Hospital, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom
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13
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Jain N, Shashi Bhushan BL, Natarajan M, Mehta R, Saini DK, Chatterjee K. Advanced 3D In Vitro Lung Fibrosis Models: Contemporary Status, Clinical Uptake, and Prospective Outlooks. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2024; 10:1235-1261. [PMID: 38335198 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.3c01499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
Fibrosis has been characterized as a global health problem and ranks as one of the primary causes of organ dysfunction. Currently, there is no cure for pulmonary fibrosis, and limited therapeutic options are available due to an inadequate understanding of the disease pathogenesis. The absence of advanced in vitro models replicating dynamic temporal changes observed in the tissue with the progression of the disease is a significant impediment in the development of novel antifibrotic treatments, which has motivated research on tissue-mimetic three-dimensional (3D) models. In this review, we summarize emerging trends in preparing advanced lung models to recapitulate biochemical and biomechanical processes associated with lung fibrogenesis. We begin by describing the importance of in vivo studies and highlighting the often poor correlation between preclinical research and clinical outcomes and the limitations of conventional cell culture in accurately simulating the 3D tissue microenvironment. Rapid advancement in biomaterials, biofabrication, biomicrofluidics, and related bioengineering techniques are enabling the preparation of in vitro models to reproduce the epithelium structure and operate as reliable drug screening strategies for precise prediction. Improving and understanding these model systems is necessary to find the cross-talks between growing cells and the stage at which myofibroblasts differentiate. These advanced models allow us to utilize the knowledge and identify, characterize, and hand pick medicines beneficial to the human community. The challenges of the current approaches, along with the opportunities for further research with potential for translation in this field, are presented toward developing novel treatments for pulmonary fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nipun Jain
- Department of Materials Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, C.V Raman Avenue, Bangalore 560012 India
| | - B L Shashi Bhushan
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Victoria Hospital, Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute, Bangalore 560002 India
| | - M Natarajan
- Department of Pathology, Victoria Hospital, Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute, Bangalore 560002 India
| | - Ravi Mehta
- Department of Pulmonology and Critical Care, Apollo Hospitals, Jayanagar, Bangalore 560011 India
| | - Deepak Kumar Saini
- Department of Developmental Biology and Genetics, Indian Institute of Science, C.V Raman Avenue, Bangalore 560012 India
| | - Kaushik Chatterjee
- Department of Materials Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, C.V Raman Avenue, Bangalore 560012 India
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14
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Mulay AR, Hwang J, Kim DH. Microphysiological Blood-Brain Barrier Systems for Disease Modeling and Drug Development. Adv Healthc Mater 2024:e2303180. [PMID: 38430211 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202303180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024]
Abstract
The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a highly controlled microenvironment that regulates the interactions between cerebral blood and brain tissue. Due to its selectivity, many therapeutics targeting various neurological disorders are not able to penetrate into brain tissue. Pre-clinical studies using animals and other in vitro platforms have not shown the ability to fully replicate the human BBB leading to the failure of a majority of therapeutics in clinical trials. However, recent innovations in vitro and ex vivo modeling called organs-on-chips have shown the potential to create more accurate disease models for improved drug development. These microfluidic platforms induce physiological stressors on cultured cells and are able to generate more physiologically accurate BBBs compared to previous in vitro models. In this review, different approaches to create BBBs-on-chips are explored alongside their application in modeling various neurological disorders and potential therapeutic efficacy. Additionally, organs-on-chips use in BBB drug delivery studies is discussed, and advances in linking brain organs-on-chips onto multiorgan platforms to mimic organ crosstalk are reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atharva R Mulay
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA
| | - Jihyun Hwang
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Deok-Ho Kim
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Center for Microphysiological Systems, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA
- Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, 21218, USA
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, 21205, USA
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15
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Nashimoto Y, Konno A, Imaizumi T, Nishikawa K, Ino K, Hori T, Kaji H, Shintaku H, Goto M, Shiku H. Microfluidic vascular formation model for assessing angiogenic capacities of single islets. Biotechnol Bioeng 2024; 121:1050-1059. [PMID: 38131167 DOI: 10.1002/bit.28631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Revised: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Pancreatic islet transplantation presents a promising therapy for individuals suffering from type 1 diabetes. To maintain the function of transplanted islets in vivo, it is imperative to induce angiogenesis. However, the mechanisms underlying angiogenesis triggered by islets remain unclear. In this study, we introduced a microphysiological system to study the angiogenic capacity and dynamics of individual islets. The system, which features an open-top structure, uniquely facilitates the inoculation of islets and the longitudinal observation of vascular formation in in vivo like microenvironment with islet-endothelial cell communication. By leveraging our system, we discovered notable islet-islet heterogeneity in the angiogenic capacity. Transcriptomic analysis of the vascularized islets revealed that islets with high angiogenic capacity exhibited upregulation of genes related to insulin secretion and downregulation of genes related to angiogenesis and fibroblasts. In conclusion, our microfluidic approach is effective in characterizing the vascular formation of individual islets and holds great promise for elucidating the angiogenic mechanisms that enhance islet transplantation therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuji Nashimoto
- Institute of Biomaterials and Bioengineering (IBB), Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), Tokyo, Japan
- Frontier Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Sciences (FRIS), Tohoku University, Miyagi, Japan
- Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University, Miyagi, Japan
- Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Tohoku University, Miyagi, Japan
- Cluster for Pioneering Research, RIKEN, Saitama, Japan
| | - An Konno
- Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Tohoku University, Miyagi, Japan
| | - Takuto Imaizumi
- Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Tohoku University, Miyagi, Japan
| | | | - Kosuke Ino
- Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University, Miyagi, Japan
| | - Takeshi Hori
- Institute of Biomaterials and Bioengineering (IBB), Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hirokazu Kaji
- Institute of Biomaterials and Bioengineering (IBB), Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hirofumi Shintaku
- Cluster for Pioneering Research, RIKEN, Saitama, Japan
- Institute for Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Masafumi Goto
- Division of Transplantation and Regenerative Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Tohoku University, Miyagi, Japan
| | - Hitoshi Shiku
- Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University, Miyagi, Japan
- Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Tohoku University, Miyagi, Japan
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16
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Lee J, Menon N, Lim CT. Dissecting Gut-Microbial Community Interactions using a Gut Microbiome-on-a-Chip. Adv Sci (Weinh) 2024:e2302113. [PMID: 38414327 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202302113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2023] [Revised: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
While the human gut microbiota has a significant impact on gut health and disease, understanding of the roles of gut microbes, interactions, and collective impact of gut microbes on various aspects of human gut health is limited by the lack of suitable in vitro model system that can accurately replicate gut-like environment and enable the close visualization on causal and mechanistic relationships between microbial constitutents and the gut. , In this study, we present a scalable Gut Microbiome-on-a-Chip (GMoC) with great imaging capability and scalability, providing a physiologically relevant dynamic gut-microbes interfaces. This chip features a reproducible 3D stratified gut epithelium derived from Caco-2 cells (µGut), mimicking key intestinal architecture, functions, and cellular complexity, providing a physiolocially relevant gut environment for microbes residing in the gut. Incorporating tumorigenic bacteria, enterotoxigenic Bacteroides fragilis (ETBF), into the GMoC enable the observation of pathogenic behaviors of ETBF, leading to µGut disruption and pro-tumorigenic signaling activations. Pre-treating the µGut with a beneficial gut microbe Lactobacillus spp., effectively prevent ETBF-mediated gut pathogenesis, preserving the healthy state of the µGut through competition-mediated colonization resistance. The GMoC holds potential as a valuable tool for exploring unknown roles of gut microbes in microbe-induced pathogenesis and microbe-based therapeutic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeeyeon Lee
- Institute for Health Innovation and Technology (iHealthtech), National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117599, Singapore
| | - Nishanth Menon
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117583, Singapore
| | - Chwee Teck Lim
- Institute for Health Innovation and Technology (iHealthtech), National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117599, Singapore
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117583, Singapore
- Mechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117411, Singapore
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17
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Skardal A. Grand challenges in organoid and organ-on-a-chip technologies. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2024; 12:1366280. [PMID: 38456004 PMCID: PMC10919399 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2024.1366280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2024] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Aleksander Skardal
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
- Center for Cancer Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
- Cancer Biology Program, The Ohio State University and Arthur G. James Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH, United States
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18
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Verbruggen SW, Freeman CL, Freeman FE. Utilizing 3D Models to Unravel the Dynamics of Myeloma Plasma Cells' Escape from the Bone Marrow Microenvironment. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:889. [PMID: 38473251 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16050889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2024] [Revised: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Recent therapeutic advancements have markedly increased the survival rates of individuals with multiple myeloma (MM), doubling survival compared to pre-2000 estimates. This progress, driven by highly effective novel agents, suggests a growing population of MM survivors exceeding the 10-year mark post-diagnosis. However, contemporary clinical observations indicate potential trends toward more aggressive relapse phenotypes, characterized by extramedullary disease and dominant proliferative clones, despite these highly effective treatments. To build upon these advances, it is crucial to develop models of MM evolution, particularly focusing on understanding the biological mechanisms behind its development outside the bone marrow. This comprehensive understanding is essential to devising innovative treatment strategies. This review emphasizes the role of 3D models, specifically addressing the bone marrow microenvironment and development of extramedullary sites. It explores the current state-of-the-art in MM modelling, highlighting challenges in replicating the disease's complexity. Recognizing the unique demand for accurate models, the discussion underscores the potential impact of these advanced 3D models on understanding and combating this heterogeneous and still incurable disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefaan W Verbruggen
- Digital Environment Research Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, UK
- Center for Predictive In Vitro Models, School of Engineering and Materials Science, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, UK
- INSIGNEO Institute for In Silico Medicine, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S1 3JD, UK
| | - Ciara L Freeman
- H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Fiona E Freeman
- School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Engineering and Materials Science Centre, University College Dublin, D04 V1W8 Dublin, Ireland
- Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research, University College Dublin, D04 V1W8 Dublin, Ireland
- Trinity Centre for Biomedical Engineering, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, D02 PN40 Dublin, Ireland
- Department of Mechanical Manufacturing, and Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering, Trinity College Dublin, D02 PN40 Dublin, Ireland
- Advanced Materials and Bioengineering Research Centre (AMBER), Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and Trinity College Dublin, D02 YN77 Dublin, Ireland
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19
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Bai H, Olson KNP, Pan M, Marshall T, Singh H, Ma J, Gilbride P, Yuan Y, McCormack J, Si L, Maharjan S, Huang D, Qian X, Livermore C, Zhang YS, Xie X. Rapid Prototyping of Thermoplastic Microfluidic 3D Cell Culture Devices by Creating Regional Hydrophilicity Discrepancy. Adv Sci (Weinh) 2024; 11:e2304332. [PMID: 38032118 PMCID: PMC10870023 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202304332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Revised: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
Microfluidic 3D cell culture devices that enable the recapitulation of key aspects of organ structures and functions in vivo represent a promising preclinical platform to improve translational success during drug discovery. Essential to these engineered devices is the spatial patterning of cells from different tissue types within a confined microenvironment. Traditional fabrication strategies lack the scalability, cost-effectiveness, and rapid prototyping capabilities required for industrial applications, especially for processes involving thermoplastic materials. Here, an approach to pattern fluid guides inside microchannels is introduced by establishing differential hydrophilicity using pressure-sensitive adhesives as masks and a subsequent selective coating with a biocompatible polymer. Optimal coating conditions are identified using polyvinylpyrrolidone, which resulted in rapid and consistent hydrogel flow in both the open-chip prototype and the fully bonded device containing additional features for medium perfusion. The suitability of the device for dynamic 3D cell culture is tested by growing human hepatocytes in the device under controlled fluid flow for a 14-day period. Additionally, the study demonstrated the potential of using the device for pharmaceutical high-throughput screening applications, such as predicting drug-induced liver injury. The approach offers a facile strategy of rapid prototyping thermoplastic microfluidic organ chips with varying geometries, microstructures, and substrate materials.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Ming Pan
- Xellar BiosystemsCambridgeMA02458USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Longlong Si
- CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering BiologyShenzhen Institute of Synthetic BiologyShenzhen Institute of Advanced TechnologyChinese Academy of SciencesShenzhen518055P. R. China
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing100049P. R. China
| | - Sushila Maharjan
- Division of Engineering in MedicineDepartment of MedicineBrigham and Women's HospitalHarvard Medical SchoolCambridgeMA02142USA
| | - Di Huang
- Research Center for Nano‐biomaterials & Regenerative MedicineCollege of Biomedical EngineeringTaiyuan University of TechnologyTaiyuan030024P. R. China
| | | | - Carol Livermore
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial EngineeringNortheastern UniversityBostonMA02115USA
| | - Yu Shrike Zhang
- Division of Engineering in MedicineDepartment of MedicineBrigham and Women's HospitalHarvard Medical SchoolCambridgeMA02142USA
| | - Xin Xie
- Xellar BiosystemsCambridgeMA02458USA
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20
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Yang Y, Yang H, Kiskin FN, Zhang JZ. The new era of cardiovascular research: revolutionizing cardiovascular research with 3D models in a dish. Med Rev (2021) 2024; 4:68-85. [PMID: 38515776 PMCID: PMC10954298 DOI: 10.1515/mr-2023-0059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
Cardiovascular research has heavily relied on studies using patient samples and animal models. However, patient studies often miss the data from the crucial early stage of cardiovascular diseases, as obtaining primary tissues at this stage is impracticable. Transgenic animal models can offer some insights into disease mechanisms, although they usually do not fully recapitulate the phenotype of cardiovascular diseases and their progression. In recent years, a promising breakthrough has emerged in the form of in vitro three-dimensional (3D) cardiovascular models utilizing human pluripotent stem cells. These innovative models recreate the intricate 3D structure of the human heart and vessels within a controlled environment. This advancement is pivotal as it addresses the existing gaps in cardiovascular research, allowing scientists to study different stages of cardiovascular diseases and specific drug responses using human-origin models. In this review, we first outline various approaches employed to generate these models. We then comprehensively discuss their applications in studying cardiovascular diseases by providing insights into molecular and cellular changes associated with cardiovascular conditions. Moreover, we highlight the potential of these 3D models serving as a platform for drug testing to assess drug efficacy and safety. Despite their immense potential, challenges persist, particularly in maintaining the complex structure of 3D heart and vessel models and ensuring their function is comparable to real organs. However, overcoming these challenges could revolutionize cardiovascular research. It has the potential to offer comprehensive mechanistic insights into human-specific disease processes, ultimately expediting the development of personalized therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Yang
- Institute of Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Hao Yang
- Institute of Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Fedir N. Kiskin
- Institute of Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Joe Z. Zhang
- Institute of Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China
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21
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Zhang Y, Qiang Y, Li H, Li G, Lu L, Dao M, Karniadakis GE, Popel AS, Zhao C. Signaling-biophysical modeling unravels mechanistic control of red blood cell phagocytosis by macrophages in sickle cell disease. PNAS Nexus 2024; 3:pgae031. [PMID: 38312226 PMCID: PMC10833451 DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgae031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/06/2024]
Abstract
Red blood cell (RBC) aging manifests through progressive changes in cell morphology, rigidity, and expression of membrane proteins. To maintain the quality of circulating blood, splenic macrophages detect the biochemical signals and biophysical changes of RBCs and selectively clear them through erythrophagocytosis. In sickle cell disease (SCD), RBCs display alterations affecting their interaction with macrophages, leading to aberrant phagocytosis that may cause life-threatening spleen sequestration crises. To illuminate the mechanistic control of RBC engulfment by macrophages in SCD, we integrate a system biology model of RBC-macrophage signaling interactions with a biophysical model of macrophage engulfment, as well as in vitro phagocytosis experiments using the spleen-on-a-chip technology. Our modeling framework accurately predicts the phagocytosis dynamics of RBCs under different disease conditions, reveals patterns distinguishing normal and sickle RBCs, and identifies molecular targets including Src homology 2 domain-containing protein tyrosine phosphatase-1 (SHP1) and cluster of differentiation 47 (CD47)/signal regulatory protein α (SIRPα) as therapeutic targets to facilitate the controlled clearance of sickle RBCs in the spleen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Yuhao Qiang
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - He Li
- School of Chemical, Materials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Guansheng Li
- School of Engineering, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA
| | - Lu Lu
- Department of Statistics and Data Science, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Ming Dao
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | | | - Aleksander S Popel
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Chen Zhao
- School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, China
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22
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Pierfelice TV, D'Amico E, Petrini M, Romano M, D'Arcangelo C, Sbordone L, Barone A, Plebani R, Iezzi G. A Systematic Review on Organ-on-a-Chip in PDMS or Hydrogel in Dentistry: An Update of the Literature. Gels 2024; 10:102. [PMID: 38391432 PMCID: PMC10887950 DOI: 10.3390/gels10020102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2024] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Organs-on-a-chip (OoCs) are microfluidic devices constituted by PDMS or hydrogel in which different layers of cells are separated by a semipermeable membrane. This technology can set many parameters, like fluid shear stress, chemical concentration gradient, tissue-organ interface, and cell interaction. The use of these devices in medical research permits the investigation of cell patterning, tissue-material interface, and organ-organ interaction, mimicking the complex structures and microenvironment of human and animal bodies. This technology allows us to reconstitute in vitro complex conditions that recapitulate in vivo environments. One of the main advantages of these systems is that they represent a very realistic model that, in many cases, can replace animal experimentation, eliminating costs and related ethical issues. Organ-on-a-chip can also contain bacteria or cancer cells. This technology could be beneficial in dentistry for testing novel antibacterial substances and biomaterials, performing studies on inflammatory disease, or planning preclinical studies. A significant number of publications and reviews have been published on this topic. Still, to our knowledge, they mainly focus on the materials used for fabrication and the different patterns of the chip applied to the experimentations. This review presents the most recent applications of organ-on-a-chip models in dentistry, starting from the reconstituted dental tissues to their clinical applications and future perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tania Vanessa Pierfelice
- Department of Medical, Oral and Biotechnological Sciences, University G. d'Annunzio of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy
| | - Emira D'Amico
- Department of Medical, Oral and Biotechnological Sciences, University G. d'Annunzio of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy
| | - Morena Petrini
- Department of Medical, Oral and Biotechnological Sciences, University G. d'Annunzio of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy
| | - Mario Romano
- Department of Medical, Oral and Biotechnological Sciences, University G. d'Annunzio of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy
| | - Camillo D'Arcangelo
- Department of Medical, Oral and Biotechnological Sciences, University G. d'Annunzio of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy
| | - Ludovico Sbordone
- Department of Medicine and Health Sciences "V. Tiberio", University of Molise, 86100 Campobasso, Italy
| | - Antonio Barone
- Department of Surgical, Medical, Molecular Pathologies and of the Critical Needs, School of Dentistry, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
- Complex Unit of Stomatology and Oral Surgery, University Hospital of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Roberto Plebani
- Department of Medical, Oral and Biotechnological Sciences, University G. d'Annunzio of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy
| | - Giovanna Iezzi
- Department of Medical, Oral and Biotechnological Sciences, University G. d'Annunzio of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy
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23
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Carvalho DJ, Kip AM, Tegel A, Stich M, Krause C, Romitti M, Branca C, Verhoeven B, Costagliola S, Moroni L, Giselbrecht S. A Modular Microfluidic Organoid Platform Using LEGO-Like Bricks. Adv Healthc Mater 2024:e2303444. [PMID: 38247306 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202303444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
The convergence of organoid and organ-on-a-chip (OoC) technologies is urgently needed to overcome limitations of current 3D in vitro models. However, integrating organoids in standard OoCs faces several technical challenges, as it is typically laborious, lacks flexibility, and often results in even more complex and less-efficient cell culture protocols. Therefore, specifically adapted and more flexible microfluidic platforms need to be developed to facilitate the incorporation of complex 3D in vitro models. Here, a modular, tubeless fluidic circuit board (FCB) coupled with reversibly sealed cell culture bricks for dynamic culture of embryonic stem cell-derived thyroid follicles is developed. The FCB is fabricated by milling channels in a polycarbonate (PC) plate followed by thermal bonding against another PC plate. LEGO-like fluidic interconnectors allow plug-and-play connection between a variety of cell culture bricks and the FCB. Lock-and-play clamps are integrated in the organoid brick to enable easy (un)loading of organoids. A multiplexed perfusion experiment is conducted with six FCBs, where thyroid organoids are transferred on-chip within minutes and cultured up to 10 d without losing their structure and functionality, thus validating this system as a flexible, easy-to-use platform, capable of synergistically combining organoids with advanced microfluidic platforms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel J Carvalho
- Department of Instructive Biomaterials Engineering, MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, Maastricht, 6229 ER, The Netherlands
| | - Anna M Kip
- Department of Complex Tissue Regeneration, MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, Maastricht, 6229 ER, The Netherlands
| | - Andreas Tegel
- PreSens Precision Sensing GmbH, Am Biopark 11, 93053, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Matthias Stich
- PreSens Precision Sensing GmbH, Am Biopark 11, 93053, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Christian Krause
- PreSens Precision Sensing GmbH, Am Biopark 11, 93053, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Mírian Romitti
- Institute of Interdisciplinary Research in Molecular Human Biology (IRIBHM), Université Libre de Bruxelles, 808 route de Lennik, Anderlecht, 1070, Belgium
| | - Carlotta Branca
- Department of Complex Tissue Regeneration, MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, Maastricht, 6229 ER, The Netherlands
| | - Bart Verhoeven
- IDEE Instrument Development Engineering and Evaluation - Research Engineering, Universiteitssingel 50, Maastricht, 6200 MD, The Netherlands
| | - Sabine Costagliola
- Institute of Interdisciplinary Research in Molecular Human Biology (IRIBHM), Université Libre de Bruxelles, 808 route de Lennik, Anderlecht, 1070, Belgium
| | - Lorenzo Moroni
- Department of Complex Tissue Regeneration, MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, Maastricht, 6229 ER, The Netherlands
| | - Stefan Giselbrecht
- Department of Instructive Biomaterials Engineering, MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, Maastricht, 6229 ER, The Netherlands
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24
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Yoon S, Kilicarslan You D, Jeong U, Lee M, Kim E, Jeon TJ, Kim SM. Microfluidics in High-Throughput Drug Screening: Organ-on-a-Chip and C. elegans-Based Innovations. Biosensors (Basel) 2024; 14:55. [PMID: 38275308 PMCID: PMC10813408 DOI: 10.3390/bios14010055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
The development of therapeutic interventions for diseases necessitates a crucial step known as drug screening, wherein potential substances with medicinal properties are rigorously evaluated. This process has undergone a transformative evolution, driven by the imperative need for more efficient, rapid, and high-throughput screening platforms. Among these, microfluidic systems have emerged as the epitome of efficiency, enabling the screening of drug candidates with unprecedented speed and minimal sample consumption. This review paper explores the cutting-edge landscape of microfluidic-based drug screening platforms, with a specific emphasis on two pioneering approaches: organ-on-a-chip and C. elegans-based chips. Organ-on-a-chip technology harnesses human-derived cells to recreate the physiological functions of human organs, offering an invaluable tool for assessing drug efficacy and toxicity. In parallel, C. elegans-based chips, boasting up to 60% genetic homology with humans and a remarkable affinity for microfluidic systems, have proven to be robust models for drug screening. Our comprehensive review endeavors to provide readers with a profound understanding of the fundamental principles, advantages, and challenges associated with these innovative drug screening platforms. We delve into the latest breakthroughs and practical applications in this burgeoning field, illuminating the pivotal role these platforms play in expediting drug discovery and development. Furthermore, we engage in a forward-looking discussion to delineate the future directions and untapped potential inherent in these transformative technologies. Through this review, we aim to contribute to the collective knowledge base in the realm of drug screening, providing valuable insights to researchers, clinicians, and stakeholders alike. We invite readers to embark on a journey into the realm of microfluidic-based drug screening platforms, fostering a deeper appreciation for their significance and promising avenues yet to be explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunhee Yoon
- Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering, Inha University, Incheon 22212, Republic of Korea; (S.Y.); (D.K.Y.); (M.L.); (E.K.)
| | - Dilara Kilicarslan You
- Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering, Inha University, Incheon 22212, Republic of Korea; (S.Y.); (D.K.Y.); (M.L.); (E.K.)
| | - Uiechan Jeong
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Inha University, Incheon 22212, Republic of Korea
| | - Mina Lee
- Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering, Inha University, Incheon 22212, Republic of Korea; (S.Y.); (D.K.Y.); (M.L.); (E.K.)
| | - Eunhye Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering, Inha University, Incheon 22212, Republic of Korea; (S.Y.); (D.K.Y.); (M.L.); (E.K.)
| | - Tae-Joon Jeon
- Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering, Inha University, Incheon 22212, Republic of Korea; (S.Y.); (D.K.Y.); (M.L.); (E.K.)
- Department of Biological Engineering, Inha University, Incheon 22212, Republic of Korea
- Biohybrid Systems Research Center (BSRC), Inha University, Incheon 22212, Republic of Korea
| | - Sun Min Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering, Inha University, Incheon 22212, Republic of Korea; (S.Y.); (D.K.Y.); (M.L.); (E.K.)
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Inha University, Incheon 22212, Republic of Korea
- Biohybrid Systems Research Center (BSRC), Inha University, Incheon 22212, Republic of Korea
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25
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Bender RHF, O’Donnell BT, Shergill B, Pham BQ, Tahmouresie S, Sanchez CN, Juat DJ, Hatch MMS, Shirure VS, Wortham M, Nguyen-Ngoc KV, Jun Y, Gaetani R, Christman KL, Teyton L, George SC, Sander M, Hughes CCW. A vascularized 3D model of the human pancreatic islet for ex vivostudy of immune cell-islet interaction. Biofabrication 2024; 16:025001. [PMID: 38128127 PMCID: PMC10782895 DOI: 10.1088/1758-5090/ad17d0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Revised: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Insulin is an essential regulator of blood glucose homeostasis that is produced exclusively byβcells within the pancreatic islets of healthy individuals. In those affected by diabetes, immune inflammation, damage, and destruction of isletβcells leads to insulin deficiency and hyperglycemia. Current efforts to understand the mechanisms underlyingβcell damage in diabetes rely onin vitro-cultured cadaveric islets. However, isolation of these islets involves removal of crucial matrix and vasculature that supports islets in the intact pancreas. Unsurprisingly, these islets demonstrate reduced functionality over time in standard culture conditions, thereby limiting their value for understanding native islet biology. Leveraging a novel, vascularized micro-organ (VMO) approach, we have recapitulated elements of the native pancreas by incorporating isolated human islets within a three-dimensional matrix nourished by living, perfusable blood vessels. Importantly, these islets show long-term viability and maintain robust glucose-stimulated insulin responses. Furthermore, vessel-mediated delivery of immune cells to these tissues provides a model to assess islet-immune cell interactions and subsequent islet killing-key steps in type 1 diabetes pathogenesis. Together, these results establish the islet-VMO as a novel,ex vivoplatform for studying human islet biology in both health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Hugh F Bender
- Department of Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA, United States of America
| | - Benjamen T O’Donnell
- Department of Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA, United States of America
| | - Bhupinder Shergill
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Davis, CA, United States of America
| | - Brittany Q Pham
- Department of Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA, United States of America
| | - Sima Tahmouresie
- Department of Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA, United States of America
| | - Celeste N Sanchez
- Department of Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA, United States of America
| | - Damie J Juat
- Department of Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA, United States of America
| | - Michaela M S Hatch
- Department of Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA, United States of America
| | - Venktesh S Shirure
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Davis, CA, United States of America
| | - Matthew Wortham
- Pediatric Diabetes Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, CA, United States of America
| | - Kim-Vy Nguyen-Ngoc
- Pediatric Diabetes Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, CA, United States of America
| | - Yesl Jun
- Pediatric Diabetes Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, CA, United States of America
| | - Roberto Gaetani
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, CA, United States of America
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Karen L Christman
- Department of Cellular & Molecular Medicine, University of California, San Diego, CA, United States of America
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, CA, United States of America
| | - Luc Teyton
- Department of Immunology & Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, San Diego, CA, United States of America
| | - Steven C George
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Davis, CA, United States of America
| | - Maike Sander
- Pediatric Diabetes Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, CA, United States of America
- Department of Cellular & Molecular Medicine, University of California, San Diego, CA, United States of America
| | - Christopher C W Hughes
- Department of Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA, United States of America
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Irvine, CA, United States of America
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26
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Yoshimoto K, Maki K, Adachi T, Kamei KI. Cyclic Stretching Enhances Angiocrine Signals at Liver Bud Stage from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells in Two-Dimensional Culture. Tissue Eng Part A 2024. [PMID: 38062736 DOI: 10.1089/ten.tea.2023.0148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Angiocrine signals during the development and growth of organs, including the liver, intestine, lung, and bone, are essential components of intercellular communication. The signals elicited during the liver bud stage are critical for vascularization and enhanced during the intercellular communication between the cells negative for kinase insert domain receptor (KDR) (KDR- cells) and the cells positive for KDR (KDR+ cells), which constitute the liver bud. However, the use of a human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)-derived system has not facilitated the generation of a perfusable vascularized liver organoid that allows elucidation of liver development and has great potential for liver transplantation. This is largely owing to the lack of fundamental understanding to induce angiocrine signals in KDR- and KDR+ cells during the liver bud stage. We hypothesized that mechanical stimuli of cyclic stretching/pushing by the fetal heart adjacent to the liver bud could be the main contributor to promoting angiocrine signals in KDR- and KDR+ cells during the liver bud stage. In this study, we show that an organ-on-a-chip platform allows the emulation of an in vivo-like mechanical environment for the liver bud stage in vitro and investigate the role of cyclic mechanical stretching (cMS) to angiocrine signals in KDR- and KDR+ cells derived from hPSCs. RNA sequencing revealed that the expression of genes associated with epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, including angiocrine signals, such as hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and matrix metallopeptidase 9 (MMP9), were increased by cMS in cocultured KDR- and KDR+ cells. The expression and secretions of HGF and MMP9 were increased by 1.98- and 1.69-fold and 3.23- and 3.72-fold with cMS in the cocultured KDR- and KDR+ cells but were not increased by cMS in the monocultured KDR- and KDR+ cells, respectively. Finally, cMS during the liver bud stage did not lead to the dedifferentiation of hepatocytes, as the cells with cMS showed hepatic maker expression (CYP3A4, CYP3A7, ALB, and AAT) and 1.71-fold higher CYP3A activity than the cells without cMS, during 12 day-hepatocyte maturation after halting cMS. Our findings provide new insights into the mechanical factors during the liver bud stage and directions for future improvements in the engineered liver tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koki Yoshimoto
- Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences, Institute for Advanced Study, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
- Department of Mammalian Regulatory Network, Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
- Department of Biosystems Science, Institute for Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Koichiro Maki
- Department of Mammalian Regulatory Network, Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
- Department of Biosystems Science, Institute for Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Taiji Adachi
- Department of Mammalian Regulatory Network, Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
- Department of Biosystems Science, Institute for Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Ken-Ichiro Kamei
- Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences, Institute for Advanced Study, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
- Wuya College of Innovation, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Liaoning, China
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Liaoning, China
- Programs of Biology and Bioengineering, Divisions of Science and Engineering, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, UAE
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tandon School of Engineering, New York University, Brooklyn, New York, USA
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27
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Tak S, Han G, Leem SH, Lee SY, Paek K, Kim JA. Prediction of anticancer drug resistance using a 3D microfluidic bladder cancer model combined with convolutional neural network-based image analysis. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2024; 11:1302983. [PMID: 38268938 PMCID: PMC10806080 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1302983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Bladder cancer is the most common urological malignancy worldwide, and its high recurrence rate leads to poor survival outcomes. The effect of anticancer drug treatment varies significantly depending on individual patients and the extent of drug resistance. In this study, we developed a validation system based on an organ-on-a-chip integrated with artificial intelligence technologies to predict resistance to anticancer drugs in bladder cancer. As a proof-of-concept, we utilized the gemcitabine-resistant bladder cancer cell line T24 with four distinct levels of drug resistance (parental, early, intermediate, and late). These cells were co-cultured with endothelial cells in a 3D microfluidic chip. A dataset comprising 2,674 cell images from the chips was analyzed using a convolutional neural network (CNN) to distinguish the extent of drug resistance among the four cell groups. The CNN achieved 95.2% accuracy upon employing data augmentation and a step decay learning rate with an initial value of 0.001. The average diagnostic sensitivity and specificity were 90.5% and 96.8%, respectively, and all area under the curve (AUC) values were over 0.988. Our proposed method demonstrated excellent performance in accurately identifying the extent of drug resistance, which can assist in the prediction of drug responses and in determining the appropriate treatment for bladder cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sungho Tak
- Research Center for Bioconvergence Analysis, Korea Basic Science Institute, Cheongju, Republic of Korea
- Graduate School of Analytical Science and Technology, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Gyeongjin Han
- Research Center for Bioconvergence Analysis, Korea Basic Science Institute, Cheongju, Republic of Korea
| | - Sun-Hee Leem
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Dong-A University, Busan, Republic of Korea
- Department of Health Sciences, The Graduate School of Dong-A University, Busan, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang-Yeop Lee
- Research Center for Bioconvergence Analysis, Korea Basic Science Institute, Cheongju, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyurim Paek
- Center for Scientific Instrumentation, Korea Basic Science Institute, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeong Ah Kim
- Center for Scientific Instrumentation, Korea Basic Science Institute, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
- Department of Bio-Analytical Science, University of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
- Chung-Ang University Hospital, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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28
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Wu Z, Huang D, Wang J, Zhao Y, Sun W, Shen X. Engineering Heterogeneous Tumor Models for Biomedical Applications. Adv Sci (Weinh) 2024; 11:e2304160. [PMID: 37946674 PMCID: PMC10767453 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202304160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Revised: 09/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
Tumor tissue engineering holds great promise for replicating the physiological and behavioral characteristics of tumors in vitro. Advances in this field have led to new opportunities for studying the tumor microenvironment and exploring potential anti-cancer therapeutics. However, the main obstacle to the widespread adoption of tumor models is the poor understanding and insufficient reconstruction of tumor heterogeneity. In this review, the current progress of engineering heterogeneous tumor models is discussed. First, the major components of tumor heterogeneity are summarized, which encompasses various signaling pathways, cell proliferations, and spatial configurations. Then, contemporary approaches are elucidated in tumor engineering that are guided by fundamental principles of tumor biology, and the potential of a bottom-up approach in tumor engineering is highlighted. Additionally, the characterization approaches and biomedical applications of tumor models are discussed, emphasizing the significant role of engineered tumor models in scientific research and clinical trials. Lastly, the challenges of heterogeneous tumor models in promoting oncology research and tumor therapy are described and key directions for future research are provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuhao Wu
- Department of Rheumatology and ImmunologyNanjing Drum Tower HospitalSchool of Biological Science and Medical EngineeringSoutheast UniversityNanjing210096China
| | - Danqing Huang
- Department of Rheumatology and ImmunologyNanjing Drum Tower HospitalSchool of Biological Science and Medical EngineeringSoutheast UniversityNanjing210096China
| | - Jinglin Wang
- Department of Rheumatology and ImmunologyNanjing Drum Tower HospitalSchool of Biological Science and Medical EngineeringSoutheast UniversityNanjing210096China
| | - Yuanjin Zhao
- Department of Rheumatology and ImmunologyNanjing Drum Tower HospitalSchool of Biological Science and Medical EngineeringSoutheast UniversityNanjing210096China
- Department of Gastrointestinal SurgeryThe First Affiliated HospitalWenzhou Medical UniversityWenzhou325035China
| | - Weijian Sun
- Department of Gastrointestinal SurgeryThe Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical UniversityWenzhou325027China
| | - Xian Shen
- Department of Rheumatology and ImmunologyNanjing Drum Tower HospitalSchool of Biological Science and Medical EngineeringSoutheast UniversityNanjing210096China
- Department of Gastrointestinal SurgeryThe First Affiliated HospitalWenzhou Medical UniversityWenzhou325035China
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29
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Verbruggen SW, Nolan J, Duffy MP, Pearce OM, Jacobs CR, Knight MM. A Novel Primary Cilium-Mediated Mechanism Through which Osteocytes Regulate Metastatic Behavior of Both Breast and Prostate Cancer Cells. Adv Sci (Weinh) 2024; 11:e2305842. [PMID: 37967351 PMCID: PMC10787058 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202305842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/17/2023]
Abstract
Bone metastases are a common cause of suffering in breast and prostate cancer patients, however, the interaction between bone cells and cancer cells is poorly understood. Using a series of co-culture, conditioned media, human cancer spheroid, and organ-on-a-chip experiments, this study reveals that osteocytes suppress cancer cell proliferation and increase migration via tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) secretion. This action is regulated by osteocyte primary cilia and associated intraflagellar transport protein 88 (IFT88). Furthermore, it shows that cancer cells block this mechanism by secreting transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β), which disrupts osteocyte cilia and IFT88 gene expression. This bi-directional crosstalk signaling between osteocytes and cancer cells is common to both breast and prostate cancer. This study also proposes that osteocyte inhibition of cancer cell proliferation decreases as cancer cells increase, producing more TGF-β. Hence, a positive feedback loop develops accelerating metastatic tumor growth. These findings demonstrate the importance of cancer cell-osteocyte signaling in regulating breast and prostate bone metastases and support the development of therapies targeting this pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefaan W. Verbruggen
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringColumbia University in the City of New YorkNew YorkNY10027USA
- Centre for BioengineeringSchool of Engineering and Materials ScienceQueen Mary University of LondonLondonE1 4NSUK
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and INSIGNEO Institute for in silico MedicineUniversity of SheffieldSheffieldS1 3JDUK
- Centre for Predictive in vitro ModelsQueen Mary University of LondonLondonE1 4NSUK
| | - Joanne Nolan
- Centre for BioengineeringSchool of Engineering and Materials ScienceQueen Mary University of LondonLondonE1 4NSUK
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and INSIGNEO Institute for in silico MedicineUniversity of SheffieldSheffieldS1 3JDUK
- Barts Cancer InstituteSchool of Medicine and DentistryQueen Mary University of LondonLondonEC1M 6AUUK
| | - Michael P. Duffy
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringColumbia University in the City of New YorkNew YorkNY10027USA
- Department of Orthopaedic SurgeryPerelman School of MedicineUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPA19104USA
| | - Oliver M.T. Pearce
- Barts Cancer InstituteSchool of Medicine and DentistryQueen Mary University of LondonLondonEC1M 6AUUK
| | - Christopher R. Jacobs
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringColumbia University in the City of New YorkNew YorkNY10027USA
| | - Martin M. Knight
- Centre for BioengineeringSchool of Engineering and Materials ScienceQueen Mary University of LondonLondonE1 4NSUK
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and INSIGNEO Institute for in silico MedicineUniversity of SheffieldSheffieldS1 3JDUK
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30
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Guo Y, Xie Y, Qin J. A generic pump-free organ-on-a-chip platform for assessment of intestinal drug absorption. Biotechnol J 2024; 19:e2300390. [PMID: 38375564 DOI: 10.1002/biot.202300390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Revised: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/21/2024]
Abstract
Organ-on-a-chip technology has shown great potential in disease modeling and drug evaluation. However, traditional organ-on-a-chip devices are mostly pump-dependent with low throughput, which makes it difficult to leverage their advantages. In this study, we have developed a generic, pump-free organ-on-a-chip platform consisting of a 32-unit chip and an adjustable rocker, facilitating high-throughput dynamic cell culture with straightforward operation. By utilizing the rocker to induce periodic fluid forces, we can achieve fluidic conditions similar to those obtained with traditional pump-based systems. Through constructing a gut-on-a-chip model, we observed remarkable enhancements in the expression of barrier-associated proteins and the spatial distribution of differentiated intestinal cells compared to static culture. Furthermore, RNA sequencing analysis unveiled enriched pathways associated with cell proliferation, lipid transport, and drug metabolism, indicating the ability of the platform to mimic critical physiological processes. Additionally, we tested seven drugs that represent a range of high, medium, and low in vivo permeability using this model and found a strong correlation between their Papp values and human Fa, demonstrating the capability of this model for drug absorption evaluation. Our findings highlight the potential of this pump-free organ-on-a-chip platform as a valuable tool for advancing drug development and enabling personalized medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaqiong Guo
- Division of Biotechnology, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian, China
| | - Yingying Xie
- Division of Biotechnology, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jianhua Qin
- Division of Biotechnology, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
- Suzhou Institute for Advanced Research, University of Science and Technology of China, Suzhou, China
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31
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Zhang S, Xu G, Wu J, Liu X, Fan Y, Chen J, Wallace G, Gu Q. Microphysiological Constructs and Systems: Biofabrication Tactics, Biomimetic Evaluation Approaches, and Biomedical Applications. Small Methods 2024; 8:e2300685. [PMID: 37798902 DOI: 10.1002/smtd.202300685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
In recent decades, microphysiological constructs and systems (MPCs and MPSs) have undergone significant development, ranging from self-organized organoids to high-throughput organ-on-a-chip platforms. Advances in biomaterials, bioinks, 3D bioprinting, micro/nanofabrication, and sensor technologies have contributed to diverse and innovative biofabrication tactics. MPCs and MPSs, particularly tissue chips relevant to absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity, have demonstrated potential as precise, efficient, and economical alternatives to animal models for drug discovery and personalized medicine. However, current approaches mainly focus on the in vitro recapitulation of the human anatomical structure and physiological-biochemical indices at a single or a few simple levels. This review highlights the recent remarkable progress in MPC and MPS models and their applications. The challenges that must be addressed to assess the reliability, quantify the techniques, and utilize the fidelity of the models are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuyu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100101, China
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Reproductive Medicine/Department of Fetal Medicine and Prenatal Diagnosis/BioResource Research Center, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Major Obstetric Diseases, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510150, China
| | - Guoshi Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100101, China
- Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Huairou District, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Juan Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100101, China
- Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Huairou District, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Xiao Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Yong Fan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Reproductive Medicine/Department of Fetal Medicine and Prenatal Diagnosis/BioResource Research Center, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Major Obstetric Diseases, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510150, China
| | - Jun Chen
- Intelligent Polymer Research Institute, Australian Institute for Innovative Materials, Innovation Campus, University of Wollongong, North Wollongong, NSW, 2500, Australia
| | - Gordon Wallace
- Intelligent Polymer Research Institute, Australian Institute for Innovative Materials, Innovation Campus, University of Wollongong, North Wollongong, NSW, 2500, Australia
| | - Qi Gu
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100101, China
- Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Huairou District, Beijing, 100049, China
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Abstract
In drug development, conventional preclinical and clinical testing stages rely on cell cultures and animal experiments, but these methods may fall short of fully representing human biology. To overcome this limitation, the emergence of organ-on-a-chip (OOC) technology has sparked interest as a transformative approach in drug testing research. By closely replicating human organ responses to external signals, OOC devices hold immense potential in revolutionizing drug efficacy and safety predictions. This review focuses on the advancements, applications, and prospects of OOC devices in drug testing. Based on the latest advances in the field of OOC systems and their clinical applications, this review reflects the effectiveness of OOC devices in replacing human volunteers in certain clinical studies. This review underscores the critical role of OOC technology in transforming drug testing methodologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nithin R
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal, Karnataka, India
| | - Ayushi Aggarwal
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal, Karnataka, India
| | - Anne Boyina Sravani
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal, Karnataka, India
| | - Pooja Mallya
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal, Karnataka, India
| | - Shaila Lewis
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal, Karnataka, India
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Bouges E, Segers C, Leys N, Lebeer S, Zhang J, Mastroleo F. Human Intestinal Organoids and Microphysiological Systems for Modeling Radiotoxicity and Assessing Radioprotective Agents. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:5859. [PMID: 38136404 PMCID: PMC10741417 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15245859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Revised: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Radiotherapy is a commonly employed treatment for colorectal cancer, yet its radiotoxicity-related impact on healthy tissues raises significant health concerns. This highlights the need to use radioprotective agents to mitigate these side effects. This review presents the current landscape of human translational radiobiology, outlining the limitations of existing models and proposing engineering solutions. We delve into radiotherapy principles, encompassing mechanisms of radiation-induced cell death and its influence on normal and cancerous colorectal cells. Furthermore, we explore the engineering aspects of microphysiological systems to represent radiotherapy-induced gastrointestinal toxicity and how to include the gut microbiota to study its role in treatment failure and success. This review ultimately highlights the main challenges and future pathways in translational research for pelvic radiotherapy-induced toxicity. This is achieved by developing a humanized in vitro model that mimics radiotherapy treatment conditions. An in vitro model should provide in-depth analyses of host-gut microbiota interactions and a deeper understanding of the underlying biological mechanisms of radioprotective food supplements. Additionally, it would be of great value if these models could produce high-throughput data using patient-derived samples to address the lack of human representability to complete clinical trials and improve patients' quality of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eloïse Bouges
- RadioPharma Research, Nuclear Medical Applications, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre (SCK CEN), Boeretang 200, 2400 Mol, Belgium; (E.B.); (C.S.); (N.L.)
- Department of Bioscience Engineering, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium;
- Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH Amsterdam, The Netherlands;
| | - Charlotte Segers
- RadioPharma Research, Nuclear Medical Applications, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre (SCK CEN), Boeretang 200, 2400 Mol, Belgium; (E.B.); (C.S.); (N.L.)
| | - Natalie Leys
- RadioPharma Research, Nuclear Medical Applications, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre (SCK CEN), Boeretang 200, 2400 Mol, Belgium; (E.B.); (C.S.); (N.L.)
| | - Sarah Lebeer
- Department of Bioscience Engineering, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium;
| | - Jianbo Zhang
- Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH Amsterdam, The Netherlands;
- Tytgat Institute for Liver and Intestinal Research, Amsterdam Gastroenterology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Amsterdam UMC, Location Academic Medical Center, 1105 BK Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Felice Mastroleo
- RadioPharma Research, Nuclear Medical Applications, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre (SCK CEN), Boeretang 200, 2400 Mol, Belgium; (E.B.); (C.S.); (N.L.)
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34
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Lee J, Maji S, Lee H. Fabrication and integration of a low-cost 3D printing-based glucose biosensor for bioprinted liver-on-a-chip. Biotechnol J 2023; 18:e2300154. [PMID: 37632204 DOI: 10.1002/biot.202300154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Revised: 08/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023]
Abstract
In the last two decades, significant progress has been made in the development of more physiologically relevant organ-on-a-chip (OOC) systems that can mimic tissue microenvironments. Despite the advantages of these microphysiological systems, such as portability, ability to mimic physiological flow conditions, and reduction of the number of reagents required for preparation and detection, they lack real-time analyte detection with high accuracy. To address this limitation, biosensor technologies have been integrated with OOC systems to facilitate simultaneous analysis of different analytes with a single device. However, the integration of biosensors with OOC systems is challenging because of the competing demands of low-cost, simple fabrication processes and speed. In this study, we fabricate a glucose-sensing device and integrate it with a liver-on-a-chip (LOC) platform. A carbon black-polylactic acid-based three-electrode system was printed using fused deposit molding 3D printing technology to simplify the fabrication process. The sensitivity of the fabricated glucose biosensing device was enhanced by coating the electrodes with multi-walled carbon nanotubes. A biosensing integration study performed using a perfusion-based LOC demonstrated the stability, biocompatibility, and sensitivity of the proposed glucose sensing device. Furthermore, drug-toxicity studies conducted using the LOC platform demonstrated the ability of the device to detect a broad range of glucose concentrations and its enhanced sensitivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaehee Lee
- Department of Smart Health Science and Technology, Kangwon National University (KNU), Chuncheon-si, Gangwon-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Somnath Maji
- Department of Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering, Kangwon National University (KNU), Chuncheon-si, Gangwon-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyungseok Lee
- Department of Smart Health Science and Technology, Kangwon National University (KNU), Chuncheon-si, Gangwon-do, Republic of Korea
- Department of Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering, Kangwon National University (KNU), Chuncheon-si, Gangwon-do, Republic of Korea
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35
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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] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qasem Ramadan
- Alfaisal University, Riyadh, 11533, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Rana Hazaymeh
- Almaarefa University, Diriyah, 13713, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
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36
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Syahruddin MH, Anggraeni R, Ana ID. A microfluidic organ-on-a-chip: into the next decade of bone tissue engineering applied in dentistry. Future Sci OA 2023; 9:FSO902. [PMID: 37753360 PMCID: PMC10518836 DOI: 10.2144/fsoa-2023-0061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
A comprehensive understanding of the complex physiological and pathological processes associated with alveolar bones, their responses to different therapeutics strategies, and cell interactions with biomaterial becomes necessary in precisely treating patients with severe progressive periodontitis, as a bone-related issue in dentistry. However, existing monolayer cell culture or pre-clinical models have been unable to mimic the complex physiological, pathological and regeneration processes in the bone microenvironment in response to different therapeutic strategies. In this point, 'organ-on-a-chip' (OOAC) technology, specifically 'alveolar-bone-on-a-chip', is expected to resolve the problems by better imitating infection site microenvironment and microphysiology within the oral tissues. The OOAC technology is assessed in this study toward better approaches in disease modeling and better therapeutics strategy for bone tissue engineering applied in dentistry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Hidayat Syahruddin
- Postgraduate Student, Dental Science Doctoral Study Program, Faculty of Dentistry, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, 55281, Indonesia
| | - Rahmi Anggraeni
- Research Center for Preclinical & Clinical Medicine, National Research & Innovation Agency of the Republic of Indonesia, Cibinong Science Center, Bogor, 16915, Indonesia
- Research Collaboration Center for Biomedical Scaffolds, National Research & Innovation Agency (BRIN) – Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), Yogyakarta, 55281, Indonesia
| | - Ika Dewi Ana
- Department of Dental Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, 55281, Indonesia
- Research Collaboration Center for Biomedical Scaffolds, National Research & Innovation Agency (BRIN) – Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), Yogyakarta, 55281, Indonesia
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37
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Muniraj G, Tan RHS, Dai Y, Wu R, Alberti M, Sriram G. Microphysiological Modeling of Gingival Tissues and Host-Material Interactions Using Gingiva-on-Chip. Adv Healthc Mater 2023; 12:e2301472. [PMID: 37758297 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202301472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Revised: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
Gingiva plays a crucial barrier role at the interface of teeth, tooth-supporting structures, microbiome, and external agents. To mimic this complex microenvironment, an in vitro microphysiological platform and biofabricated full-thickness gingival equivalents (gingiva-on-chip) within a vertically stacked microfluidic device is developed. This design allowed long-term and air-liquid interface culture, and host-material interactions under flow conditions. Compared to static cultures, dynamic cultures on-chip enabled the biofabrication of gingival equivalents with stable mucosal matrix, improved epithelial morphogenesis, and barrier features. Additionally, a diseased state with disrupted barrier function representative of gingival/oral mucosal ulcers is modeled. The apical flow feature is utilized to emulate the mechanical action of mouth rinse and integrate the assessment of host-material interactions and transmucosal permeation of oral-care formulations in both healthy and diseased states. Although the gingiva-on-chip cultures have thicker and more mature epithelium, the flow of oral-care formulations induced increased tissue disruption and cytotoxic features compared to static conditions. The realistic emulation of mouth rinsing action facilitated a more physiological assessment of mucosal irritation potential. Overall, this microphysiological system enables biofabrication of human gingiva equivalents in intact and ulcerated states, providing a miniaturized and integrated platform for downstream host-material and host-microbiome applications in gingival and oral mucosa research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giridharan Muniraj
- Faculty of Dentistry, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 119085, Singapore
| | - Rachel Hui Shuen Tan
- Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology (SIMTech), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, 138634, Singapore
| | - Yichen Dai
- Faculty of Dentistry, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 119085, Singapore
| | - Ruige Wu
- Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology (SIMTech), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, 138634, Singapore
| | - Massimo Alberti
- Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology (SIMTech), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, 138634, Singapore
- REVIVO BioSystems Pte. Ltd., Singapore, 138623, Singapore
| | - Gopu Sriram
- Faculty of Dentistry, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 119085, Singapore
- ORCHIDS: Oral Care Health Innovations and Designs Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 119085, Singapore
- NUS Centre for Additive Manufacturing (AM.NUS), National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117602, Singapore
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38
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Zhang X, Luo Y, Wang Q. Editorial: Organ mimicking technologies and their applications in drug discovery. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2023; 11:1341153. [PMID: 38107621 PMCID: PMC10722410 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1341153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Xiuli Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases and College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yong Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, Liaoning, China
| | - Qun Wang
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, United States
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39
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Abstract
Cardiovascular tissue constructs provide unique design requirements due to their functional responses to substrate mechanical properties and cyclic stretching behavior of cardiac tissue that requires the use of durable elastic materials. Given the diversity of polyester synthesis approaches, an opportunity exists to develop a new class of biocompatible, elastic, and immunomodulatory cardiovascular polymers. Furthermore, elastomeric polyester materials have the capability to provide tailored biomechanical synergy with native tissue and hence reduce inflammatory response in vivo and better support tissue maturation in vitro. In this review, we highlight underlying chemistry and design strategies of polyester elastomers optimized for cardiac tissue scaffolds. The major advantages of these materials such as their tunable elasticity, desirable biodegradation, and potential for incorporation of bioactive compounds are further expanded. Unique fabrication methods using polyester materials such as micromolding, 3D stamping, electrospinning, laser ablation, and 3D printing are discussed. Moreover, applications of these biomaterials in cardiovascular organ-on-a-chip devices and patches are analyzed. Finally, we outline unaddressed challenges in the field that need further study to enable the impactful translation of soft polyesters to clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sargol Okhovatian
- Institute of Biomaterials Engineering; University of Toronto; Toronto; Ontario, M5S 3G9; Canada
- Toronto General Research Institute, Toronto; Ontario, M5G 2C4; Canada
| | - Amid Shakeri
- Institute of Biomaterials Engineering; University of Toronto; Toronto; Ontario, M5S 3G9; Canada
- Toronto General Research Institute, Toronto; Ontario, M5G 2C4; Canada
| | - Locke Davenport Huyer
- Department of Applied Oral Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4R2, Canada
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Faculties of Medicine and Engineering, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4R2, Canada
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Milica Radisic
- Institute of Biomaterials Engineering; University of Toronto; Toronto; Ontario, M5S 3G9; Canada
- Toronto General Research Institute, Toronto; Ontario, M5G 2C4; Canada
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry; University of Toronto; Toronto; Ontario, M5S 3E5; Canada
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40
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Du Y, de Jong IEM, Gupta K, Waisbourd-Zinman O, Har-Zahav A, Soroka CJ, Boyer JL, Llewellyn J, Liu C, Naji A, Polacheck WJ, Wells RG. Human vascularized bile duct-on-a chip: a multi-cellular micro-physiological system for studying cholestatic liver disease. Biofabrication 2023; 16:015004. [PMID: 37820623 PMCID: PMC10587873 DOI: 10.1088/1758-5090/ad0261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Revised: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
Exploring the pathogenesis of and developing therapies for cholestatic liver diseases such as primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) remains challenging, partly due to a paucity ofin vitromodels that capture the complex environments contributing to disease progression and partly due to difficulty in obtaining cholangiocytes. Here we report the development of a human vascularized bile duct-on-a-chip (VBDOC) that uses cholangiocyte organoids derived from normal bile duct tissue and human vascular endothelial cells to model bile ducts and blood vessels structurally and functionally in three dimensions. Cholangiocytes in the duct polarized, formed mature tight junctions and had permeability properties comparable to those measured inex vivosystems. The flow of blood and bile was modeled by perfusion of the cell-lined channels, and cholangiocytes and endothelial cells displayed differential responses to flow. We also showed that the device can be constructed with biliary organoids from cells isolated from both bile duct tissue and the bile of PSC patients. Cholangiocytes in the duct became more inflammatory under the stimulation of IL-17A, which induced peripheral blood mononuclear cells and differentiated Th17 cells to transmigrate across the vascular channel. In sum, this human VBDOC recapitulated the vascular-biliary interface structurally and functionally and represents a novel multicellular platform to study inflammatory and fibrotic cholestatic liver diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Du
- Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America
- Key Laboratory of Microgravity (National Microgravity Laboratory), Center of Biomechanics and Bioengineering, and Beijing Key Laboratory of Engineered Construction and Mechanobiology, Institute of Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, People’s Republic of China
- NSF Science and Technology Center for Engineering MechanoBiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America
| | - Iris E M de Jong
- Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America
- NSF Science and Technology Center for Engineering MechanoBiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America
| | - Kapish Gupta
- Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America
- NSF Science and Technology Center for Engineering MechanoBiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America
| | - Orit Waisbourd-Zinman
- Institute for Gastroenterology, Nutrition and Liver Diseases, Schneider Children’s Medical Center of Israel, Petach Tikva, Israel
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Adi Har-Zahav
- Institute for Gastroenterology, Nutrition and Liver Diseases, Schneider Children’s Medical Center of Israel, Petach Tikva, Israel
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Carol J Soroka
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Digestive Diseases and Liver Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States of America
| | - James L Boyer
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Digestive Diseases and Liver Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States of America
| | - Jessica Llewellyn
- Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America
- NSF Science and Technology Center for Engineering MechanoBiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America
| | - Chengyang Liu
- Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America
| | - Ali Naji
- Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America
| | - William J Polacheck
- Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
| | - Rebecca G Wells
- Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America
- NSF Science and Technology Center for Engineering MechanoBiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America
- Department of Bioengineering, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America
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Zhang J, Huang YJ, Trapecar M, Wright C, Schneider K, Kemmit J, Hernandez-Gordillo V, Yoon JY, Alm EJ, Breault DT, Trumper D, Griffith LG. An immune-competent human gut microphysiological system enables inflammation-modulation of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii. Res Sq 2023:rs.3.rs-3373576. [PMID: 37886530 PMCID: PMC10602192 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3373576/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
Crosstalk of microbes with human gut epithelia and immune cells is crucial for gut health. However, there is no existing system for a long-term co-culture of human innate immune cells with epithelium and oxygen-intolerant commensal microbes, hindering the understanding of microbe-immune interactions in a controlled manner. Here, we establish a gut epithelium-microbe-immune microphysiological system to maintain the long-term continuous co-culture of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii/Faecalibacterium duncaniae with colonic epithelium, antigen-presenting cells (APCs, herein dendritic cells and macrophages), with CD4+ naïve T cells circulating underneath the colonic epithelium. Multiplex cytokine assays suggested that APCs contribute to the elevated level of cytokines and chemokines being secreted into both apical and basolateral compartments. In contrast, the absence of APCs does not allow reliable detection of these cytokines. In the presence of APCs, F. prausnitzii increased the transcription of pro-inflammatory genes such as toll-like receptor 1 (TLR1) and interferon alpha 1 (IFNA1) in the colonic epithelium, but no significant change on the secreted cytokines. In contrast, integration of CD4+ naïve T cells reverses this effect by decreasing the transcription of TLR1, IFNA1, and indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase, and increasing the F. prausnitzii-induced secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-8, MCP-1/CCL2, and IL1A. These results highlight the contribution of individual innate immune cells in the regulation of the immune response triggered by the gut commensal F. prausnitzii. The successful integration of defined populations of immune cells in this gut microphysiological system demonstrated the usefulness of the GuMI physiomimetic platform to study microbe-epithelial-immune interactions in health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianbo Zhang
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Yu-Ja Huang
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Martin Trapecar
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Charles Wright
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Kirsten Schneider
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - John Kemmit
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | - Jun Young Yoon
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Eric J. Alm
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - David T. Breault
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - David Trumper
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Linda G. Griffith
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Center for Gynepathology Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
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42
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van der Wal E, Iuliano A, In 't Groen SLM, Bholasing AP, Priesmann D, Sharma P, den Hamer B, Saggiomo V, Krüger M, Pijnappel WWMP, de Greef JC. Highly contractile 3D tissue engineered skeletal muscles from human iPSCs reveal similarities with primary myoblast-derived tissues. Stem Cell Reports 2023; 18:1954-1971. [PMID: 37774701 PMCID: PMC10656354 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2023.08.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Revised: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 10/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Skeletal muscle research is transitioning toward 3D tissue engineered in vitro models reproducing muscle's native architecture and supporting measurement of functionality. Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) offer high yields of cells for differentiation. It has been difficult to differentiate high-quality, pure 3D muscle tissues from hiPSCs that show contractile properties comparable to primary myoblast-derived tissues. Here, we present a transgene-free method for the generation of purified, expandable myogenic progenitors (MPs) from hiPSCs grown under feeder-free conditions. We defined a protocol with optimal hydrogel and medium conditions that allowed production of highly contractile 3D tissue engineered skeletal muscles with forces similar to primary myoblast-derived tissues. Gene expression and proteomic analysis between hiPSC-derived and primary myoblast-derived 3D tissues revealed a similar expression profile of proteins involved in myogenic differentiation and sarcomere function. The protocol should be generally applicable for the study of personalized human skeletal muscle tissue in health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erik van der Wal
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZA Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Alessandro Iuliano
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus University Medical Center, 3015 GE Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus University Medical Center, 3015 GE Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Center for Lysosomal and Metabolic Diseases, Erasmus University Medical Center, 3015 GE Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Stijn L M In 't Groen
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus University Medical Center, 3015 GE Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus University Medical Center, 3015 GE Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Center for Lysosomal and Metabolic Diseases, Erasmus University Medical Center, 3015 GE Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Anjali P Bholasing
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus University Medical Center, 3015 GE Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus University Medical Center, 3015 GE Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Center for Lysosomal and Metabolic Diseases, Erasmus University Medical Center, 3015 GE Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Dominik Priesmann
- Institute of Genetics and Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany; Center for Molecular Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Preeti Sharma
- Physical Chemistry and Soft Matter, Wageningen University and Research, 6708 WE Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Bianca den Hamer
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZA Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Vittorio Saggiomo
- Department of BioNanoTechnology, Wageningen University and Research, 6708 WG Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Marcus Krüger
- Institute of Genetics and Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany; Center for Molecular Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - W W M Pim Pijnappel
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus University Medical Center, 3015 GE Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus University Medical Center, 3015 GE Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Center for Lysosomal and Metabolic Diseases, Erasmus University Medical Center, 3015 GE Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - Jessica C de Greef
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZA Leiden, the Netherlands.
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Thompson CL, Hopkins T, Bevan C, Screen HRC, Wright KT, Knight MM. Human vascularised synovium-on-a-chip: a mechanically stimulated, microfluidic model to investigate synovial inflammation and monocyte recruitment. Biomed Mater 2023; 18:065013. [PMID: 37703884 DOI: 10.1088/1748-605x/acf976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023]
Abstract
Healthy synovium is critical for joint homeostasis. Synovial inflammation (synovitis) is implicated in the onset, progression and symptomatic presentation of arthritic joint diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Thus, the synovium is a promising target for the development of novel, disease-modifying therapeutics. However, target exploration is hampered by a lack of good pre-clinical models that accurately replicate human physiology and that are developed in a way that allows for widespread uptake. The current study presents a multi-channel, microfluidic, organ-on-a-chip (OOAC) model, comprising a 3D configuration of the human synovium and its associated vasculature, with biomechanical and inflammatory stimulation, built upon a commercially available OOAC platform. Healthy human fibroblast-like synoviocytes (hFLS) were co-cultured with human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) with appropriate matrix proteins, separated by a flexible, porous membrane. The model was developed within the Emulate organ-chip platform enabling the application of physiological biomechanical stimulation in the form of fluid shear and cyclic tensile strain. The hFLS exhibited characteristic morphology, cytoskeletal architecture and matrix protein deposition. Synovial inflammation was initiated through the addition of interleukin-1β(IL-1β) into the synovium channel resulting in the increased secretion of inflammatory and catabolic mediators, interleukin-6 (IL-6), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP-1), as well as the synovial fluid constituent protein, hyaluronan. Enhanced expression of the inflammatory marker, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), was observed in HUVECs in the vascular channel, accompanied by increased attachment of circulating monocytes. This vascularised human synovium-on-a-chip model recapitulates a number of the functional characteristics of both healthy and inflamed human synovium. Thus, this model offers the first human synovium organ-chip suitable for widespread adoption to understand synovial joint disease mechanisms, permit the identification of novel therapeutic targets and support pre-clinical testing of therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clare L Thompson
- Centre for Predictive In Vitro Models, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
- Centre for Bioengineering, School of Engineering and Materials Science, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Timothy Hopkins
- Centre for Predictive In Vitro Models, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
- Centre for Bioengineering, School of Engineering and Materials Science, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
- School of Pharmacy and Bioengineering, Keele University, Staffordshire, United Kingdom
- Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital, Shropshire, United Kingdom
| | - Catrin Bevan
- Centre for Predictive In Vitro Models, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
- Centre for Bioengineering, School of Engineering and Materials Science, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Hazel R C Screen
- Centre for Predictive In Vitro Models, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
- Centre for Bioengineering, School of Engineering and Materials Science, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Karina T Wright
- School of Pharmacy and Bioengineering, Keele University, Staffordshire, United Kingdom
- Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital, Shropshire, United Kingdom
| | - Martin M Knight
- Centre for Predictive In Vitro Models, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
- Centre for Bioengineering, School of Engineering and Materials Science, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
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Jordan R, Ford-Scheimer SL, Alarcon RM, Atala A, Borenstein JT, Brimacombe KR, Cherry S, Clevers H, Davis MI, Funnell SGP, Gehrke L, Griffith LG, Grossman AC, Hartung T, Ingber DE, Kleinstreuer NC, Kuo CJ, Lee EM, Mummery CL, Pickett TE, Ramani S, Rosado-Olivieri EA, Struble EB, Wan Z, Williams MS, Hall MD, Ferrer M, Markossian S. Report of the Assay Guidance Workshop on 3-Dimensional Tissue Models for Antiviral Drug Development. J Infect Dis 2023; 228:S337-S354. [PMID: 37669225 PMCID: PMC10547463 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiad334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) Assay Guidance Manual (AGM) Workshop on 3D Tissue Models for Antiviral Drug Development, held virtually on 7-8 June 2022, provided comprehensive coverage of critical concepts intended to help scientists establish robust, reproducible, and scalable 3D tissue models to study viruses with pandemic potential. This workshop was organized by NCATS, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. During the workshop, scientific experts from academia, industry, and government provided an overview of 3D tissue models' utility and limitations, use of existing 3D tissue models for antiviral drug development, practical advice, best practices, and case studies about the application of available 3D tissue models to infectious disease modeling. This report includes a summary of each workshop session as well as a discussion of perspectives and challenges related to the use of 3D tissues in antiviral drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Jordan
- Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Stephanie L Ford-Scheimer
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Rodolfo M Alarcon
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Anthony Atala
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
| | | | - Kyle R Brimacombe
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Sara Cherry
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | | | - Mindy I Davis
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Simon G P Funnell
- UK Health Security Agency, Salisbury, United Kingdom
- Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | - Lee Gehrke
- Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Linda G Griffith
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Abigail C Grossman
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Thomas Hartung
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Donald E Ingber
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Nicole C Kleinstreuer
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle, North Carolina, USA
| | - Calvin J Kuo
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Emily M Lee
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | | | - Thames E Pickett
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Sasirekha Ramani
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | | | - Evi B Struble
- US Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Zhengpeng Wan
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Mark S Williams
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Matthew D Hall
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Marc Ferrer
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Sarine Markossian
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, USA
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Zhang F, Lin DSY, Rajasekar S, Sotra A, Zhang B. Pump-Less Platform Enables Long-Term Recirculating Perfusion of 3D Printed Tubular Tissues. Adv Healthc Mater 2023; 12:e2300423. [PMID: 37543836 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202300423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Revised: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 08/07/2023]
Abstract
The direction and pattern of fluid flow affect vascular structure and function, in which vessel-lining endothelial cells exhibit variable cellular morphologies and vessel remodeling by mechanosensing. To recapitulate this microenvironment, some approaches have been reported to successfully apply unidirectional flow on endothelial cells in organ-on-a-chip systems. However, these platforms encounter drawbacks such as the dependency on pumps or confinement to closed microfluidic channels. These constraints impede their synergy with advanced biofabrication techniques like 3D bioprinting, thereby curtailing the potential to introduce greater complexity into engineered tissues. Herein, a pumpless recirculating platform (UniPlate) that enables unidirectional media recirculation through 3D printed tubular tissues, is demonstrated.The device is made of polystyrene via injection molding in combination with 3D printed sacrifical gelatin templates. Tubular blood vessels with unidirectional perfusion are firstly engineered. Then the design is expanded to incorporate duo-recirculating flow for culturing vascularized renal proximal tubules with glucose reabsorption function. In addition to media recirculation, human monocyte recirculation in engineered blood vessels is also demonstrated for over 24 h, with minimal loss of cells, cell viability, and inflammatory activation. UniPlate can be a valuable tool to more precisely control the cellular microenvironment of organ-on-a-chip systems for drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Zhang
- School of Biomedical Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4L8, Canada
| | - Dawn S Y Lin
- Department of Chemical Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4L8, Canada
| | - Shravanthi Rajasekar
- Department of Chemical Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4L8, Canada
| | - Alexander Sotra
- School of Biomedical Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4L8, Canada
| | - Boyang Zhang
- School of Biomedical Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4L8, Canada
- Department of Chemical Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4L8, Canada
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Leng Y, Li X, Zheng F, Liu H, Wang C, Wang X, Liao Y, Liu J, Meng K, Yu J, Zhang J, Wang B, Tan Y, Liu M, Jia X, Li D, Li Y, Gu Z, Fan Y. Advances in In Vitro Models of Neuromuscular Junction: Focusing on Organ-on-a-Chip, Organoids, and Biohybrid Robotics. Adv Mater 2023; 35:e2211059. [PMID: 36934404 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202211059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2022] [Revised: 02/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The neuromuscular junction (NMJ) is a peripheral synaptic connection between presynaptic motor neurons and postsynaptic skeletal muscle fibers that enables muscle contraction and voluntary motor movement. Many traumatic, neurodegenerative, and neuroimmunological diseases are classically believed to mainly affect either the neuronal or the muscle side of the NMJ, and treatment options are lacking. Recent advances in novel techniques have helped develop in vitro physiological and pathophysiological models of the NMJ as well as enable precise control and evaluation of its functions. This paper reviews the recent developments in in vitro NMJ models with 2D or 3D cultures, from organ-on-a-chip and organoids to biohybrid robotics. Related derivative techniques are introduced for functional analysis of the NMJ, such as the patch-clamp technique, microelectrode arrays, calcium imaging, and stimulus methods, particularly optogenetic-mediated light stimulation, microelectrode-mediated electrical stimulation, and biochemical stimulation. Finally, the applications of the in vitro NMJ models as disease models or for drug screening related to suitable neuromuscular diseases are summarized and their future development trends and challenges are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yubing Leng
- Key Laboratory for Biomechanics and Mechanobiology of Ministry of Education, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, and with the School of Engineering Medicine, Beihang University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Xiaorui Li
- Key Laboratory for Biomechanics and Mechanobiology of Ministry of Education, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, and with the School of Engineering Medicine, Beihang University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Fuyin Zheng
- Key Laboratory for Biomechanics and Mechanobiology of Ministry of Education, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, and with the School of Engineering Medicine, Beihang University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Hui Liu
- Key Laboratory for Biomechanics and Mechanobiology of Ministry of Education, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, and with the School of Engineering Medicine, Beihang University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Chunyan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Space Medicine Fundamentals and Application, China Astronaut Research and Training Center, Beijing, 100094, China
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China
| | - Xudong Wang
- Key Laboratory for Biomechanics and Mechanobiology of Ministry of Education, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, and with the School of Engineering Medicine, Beihang University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Yulong Liao
- Key Laboratory for Biomechanics and Mechanobiology of Ministry of Education, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, and with the School of Engineering Medicine, Beihang University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Jiangyue Liu
- Key Laboratory for Biomechanics and Mechanobiology of Ministry of Education, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, and with the School of Engineering Medicine, Beihang University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Kaiqi Meng
- Key Laboratory for Biomechanics and Mechanobiology of Ministry of Education, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, and with the School of Engineering Medicine, Beihang University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Jiaheng Yu
- Key Laboratory for Biomechanics and Mechanobiology of Ministry of Education, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, and with the School of Engineering Medicine, Beihang University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Jingyi Zhang
- Key Laboratory for Biomechanics and Mechanobiology of Ministry of Education, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, and with the School of Engineering Medicine, Beihang University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Binyu Wang
- Key Laboratory for Biomechanics and Mechanobiology of Ministry of Education, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, and with the School of Engineering Medicine, Beihang University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Yingjun Tan
- State Key Laboratory of Space Medicine Fundamentals and Application, China Astronaut Research and Training Center, Beijing, 100094, China
| | - Meili Liu
- Key Laboratory for Biomechanics and Mechanobiology of Ministry of Education, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, and with the School of Engineering Medicine, Beihang University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Xiaoling Jia
- Key Laboratory for Biomechanics and Mechanobiology of Ministry of Education, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, and with the School of Engineering Medicine, Beihang University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Deyu Li
- Key Laboratory for Biomechanics and Mechanobiology of Ministry of Education, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, and with the School of Engineering Medicine, Beihang University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Yinghui Li
- State Key Laboratory of Space Medicine Fundamentals and Application, China Astronaut Research and Training Center, Beijing, 100094, China
| | - Zhongze Gu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China
| | - Yubo Fan
- Key Laboratory for Biomechanics and Mechanobiology of Ministry of Education, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, and with the School of Engineering Medicine, Beihang University, Beijing, 100083, China
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Kheiri S, Chen Z, Yakavets I, Rakhshani F, Young EWK, Kumacheva E. Integrating spheroid-on-a-chip with tubeless rocker platform: A high-throughput biological screening platform. Biotechnol J 2023; 18:e2200621. [PMID: 37436706 DOI: 10.1002/biot.202200621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Revised: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023]
Abstract
Spheroid-on-a-chip platforms are emerging as promising in vitro models that enable screening of the efficacy of biologically active ingredients. Generally, the supply of liquids to spheroids occurs in the steady flow mode with the use of syringe pumps; however, the utilization of tubing and connections, especially for multiplexing and high-throughput screening applications, makes spheroid-on-a-chip platforms labor- and cost-intensive. Gravity-induced flow using rocker platforms overcomes these challenges. Here, a robust gravity-driven technique was developed to culture arrays of cancer cell spheroids and dermal fibroblast spheroids in a high-throughput manner using a rocker platform. The efficiency of the developed rocker-based platform was benchmarked to syringe pumps for generating multicellular spheroids and their use for screening biologically active ingredients. Cell viability, internal spheroid structure as well as the effect of vitamin C on spheroids' protein synthesis was studied. The rocker-based platform not only offers comparable or enhanced performance in terms of cell viability, spheroids formation, and protein production by dermal fibroblast spheroids but also, from a practical perspective, offers a smaller footprint, requires a lower cost, and offers an easier method for handling. These results support the application of rocker-based microfluidic spheroid-on-a-chip platforms for in vitro screening in a high-throughput manner with industrial scaling-up opportunities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sina Kheiri
- Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Zhengkun Chen
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ilya Yakavets
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Faeze Rakhshani
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Edmond W K Young
- Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Eugenia Kumacheva
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Thakar RG, Fenton KN. Bioethical implications of organ-on-a-chip on modernizing drug development. Artif Organs 2023; 47:1553-1558. [PMID: 37578206 PMCID: PMC10615722 DOI: 10.1111/aor.14620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/15/2023]
Abstract
Organ-on-chips are three-dimensional microdevices that emulate the structure, functionality, and behavior of specific tissues or organs using human cells. Combining organoids with microfabricated fluidic channels and microelectronics, these systems offer a promising platform for studying disease mechanisms, drug responses, and tissue performance. By replicating the in vivo microenvironment, these devices can recreate complex cell interactions in controlled conditions and facilitate research in various fields, including drug toxicity and efficacy studies, biochemical analysis, and disease pathogenesis. Integrating human induced pluripotent stem cells further enhances their applicability, thereby enabling patient-specific disease modeling for precision medicine. Although challenges like economy-of-scale, multichip integration, and regulatory compliance exist, advances in this modular technology show promise for lowering drug development costs, improving reproducibility, and reducing the reliance on animal testing. The ethical landscape surrounding organ-on-chip usage presents both benefits and concerns. While these chips offer an alternative to animal testing and potential cost savings, they raise ethical considerations related to community engagement, informed consent, and the need for standardized guidelines. Ensuring public acceptance and involvement in decision-making is vital to address misinformation and mistrust. Furthermore, personalized medicine models using patient-derived cells demand careful consideration of potential ethical dilemmas, such as modeling physiological functions of fetuses or brains and determining the extent of protection for these models. To achieve the full potential of organ-on-a-chip models, collaboration between scientists, ethicists, and regulators is essential to fulfil the promise of transforming drug development, advancing personalized medicine, and contributing to a more ethical and efficient biomedical research landscape.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rahul G Thakar
- Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Kathleen N Fenton
- Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
- Department of Bioethics, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
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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] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [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.
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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
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Li X, Zhu H, Gu B, Yao C, Gu Y, Xu W, Zhang J, He J, Liu X, Li D. Advancing Intelligent Organ-on-a-Chip Systems with Comprehensive In Situ Bioanalysis. Adv Mater 2023:e2305268. [PMID: 37688520 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202305268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Revised: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 09/11/2023]
Abstract
In vitro models are essential to a broad range of biomedical research, such as pathological studies, drug development, and personalized medicine. As a potentially transformative paradigm for 3D in vitro models, organ-on-a-chip (OOC) technology has been extensively developed to recapitulate sophisticated architectures and dynamic microenvironments of human organs by applying the principles of life sciences and leveraging micro- and nanoscale engineering capabilities. A pivotal function of OOC devices is to support multifaceted and timely characterization of cultured cells and their microenvironments. However, in-depth analysis of OOC models typically requires biomedical assay procedures that are labor-intensive and interruptive. Herein, the latest advances toward intelligent OOC (iOOC) systems, where sensors integrated with OOC devices continuously report cellular and microenvironmental information for comprehensive in situ bioanalysis, are examined. It is proposed that the multimodal data in iOOC systems can support closed-loop control of the in vitro models and offer holistic biomedical insights for diverse applications. Essential techniques for establishing iOOC systems are surveyed, encompassing in situ sensing, data processing, and dynamic modulation. Eventually, the future development of iOOC systems featuring cross-disciplinary strategies is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Li
- State Key Laboratory for Manufacturing Systems Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, China
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Additive Manufacturing Medical Devices, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, China
| | - Hui Zhu
- State Key Laboratory for Manufacturing Systems Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, China
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Additive Manufacturing Medical Devices, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, China
| | - Bingsong Gu
- State Key Laboratory for Manufacturing Systems Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, China
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Additive Manufacturing Medical Devices, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, China
| | - Cong Yao
- State Key Laboratory for Manufacturing Systems Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, China
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Additive Manufacturing Medical Devices, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, China
| | - Yuyang Gu
- State Key Laboratory for Manufacturing Systems Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, China
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Additive Manufacturing Medical Devices, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, China
| | - Wangkai Xu
- State Key Laboratory for Manufacturing Systems Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, China
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Additive Manufacturing Medical Devices, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, China
| | - Jia Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Manufacturing Systems Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, China
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Additive Manufacturing Medical Devices, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, China
| | - Jiankang He
- State Key Laboratory for Manufacturing Systems Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, China
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Additive Manufacturing Medical Devices, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, China
| | - Xinyu Liu
- Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, M5S 3G8, Canada
| | - Dichen Li
- State Key Laboratory for Manufacturing Systems Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, China
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Additive Manufacturing Medical Devices, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, China
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