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Brooks A, Zhang Y, Chen J, Zhao CX. Cancer Metastasis-on-a-Chip for Modeling Metastatic Cascade and Drug Screening. Adv Healthc Mater 2024:e2302436. [PMID: 38224141 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202302436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 01/06/2024] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
Microfluidic chips are valuable tools for studying intricate cellular and cell-microenvironment interactions. Traditional in vitro cancer models lack accuracy in mimicking the complexities of in vivo tumor microenvironment. However, cancer-metastasis-on-a-chip (CMoC) models combine the advantages of 3D cultures and microfluidic technology, serving as powerful platforms for exploring cancer mechanisms and facilitating drug screening. These chips are able to compartmentalize the metastatic cascade, deepening the understanding of its underlying mechanisms. This article provides an overview of current CMoC models, focusing on distinctive models that simulate invasion, intravasation, circulation, extravasation, and colonization, and their applications in drug screening. Furthermore, challenges faced by CMoC and microfluidic technologies are discussed, while exploring promising future directions in cancer research. The ongoing development and integration of these models into cancer studies are expected to drive transformative advancements in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasia Brooks
- School of Chemical Engineering, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, 5005, Australia
| | - Yali Zhang
- School of Chemical Engineering, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, 5005, Australia
| | - Jiezhong Chen
- School of Chemical Engineering, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, 5005, Australia
| | - Chun-Xia Zhao
- School of Chemical Engineering, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, 5005, Australia
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Andrade Mier MS, Bakirci E, Stahlhut P, Blum R, Dalton PD, Villmann C. Primary Glial Cell and Glioblastoma Morphology in Cocultures Depends on Scaffold Design and Hydrogel Composition. Adv Biol (Weinh) 2023; 7:e2300029. [PMID: 37017512 DOI: 10.1002/adbi.202300029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 04/06/2023]
Abstract
3D cell cultures better replicate the in vivo environment compared to 2D models. Glioblastoma multiforme, a malignant brain tumor, highly profits from its cellular environment. Here, the U87 glioblastoma cell line in the presence/absence of primary astrocytes is studied. Thiolated hyaluronic acid (HA-SH) hydrogel reinforced with microfiber scaffolds is compared to Matrigel. Hyaluronic acid is a major extracellular matrix (ECM) component in the brain. Poly(ɛ-caprolactone) (PCL) scaffolds are written by meltelectrowriting in a box and triangular shaped design with pore sizes of 200 µm. Scaffolds are composed of 10-layers of PCL microfibers. It is found that scaffold design has an impact on cellular morphology in the absence of hydrogel. Moreover, the used hydrogels have profound influences on cellular morphology resulting in spheroid formation in HA-SH for both the tumor-derived cell line and astrocytes, while cell viability is high. Although cocultures of U87 and astrocytes exhibit cell-cell interactions, polynucleated spheroid formation is still present for U87 cells in HA-SH. Locally restricted ECM production or inability to secrete ECM proteins may underlie the observed cell morphologies. Thus, the 3D reinforced PCL-HA-SH composite with glioma-like cells and astrocytes constitutes a reproducible system to further investigate the impact of hydrogel modifications on cellular behavior and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mateo S Andrade Mier
- Institute for Clinical Neurobiology, University Hospital Würzburg, Versbacherstr. 5, 97078, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Ezgi Bakirci
- Department of Functional Materials in Medicine and Dentistry and Bavarian Polymer Institute, University Hospital Würzburg, Pleicherwall 2, 97070, Würzburg, Germany
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Philipp Stahlhut
- Department of Functional Materials in Medicine and Dentistry and Bavarian Polymer Institute, University Hospital Würzburg, Pleicherwall 2, 97070, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Robert Blum
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Str. 11, 97080, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Paul D Dalton
- Department of Functional Materials in Medicine and Dentistry and Bavarian Polymer Institute, University Hospital Würzburg, Pleicherwall 2, 97070, Würzburg, Germany
- Phil and Penny Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact, University of Oregon, 1505 Franklin Blvd, Eugene, OR, 97403, USA
| | - Carmen Villmann
- Institute for Clinical Neurobiology, University Hospital Würzburg, Versbacherstr. 5, 97078, Würzburg, Germany
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Chen YW, Lin YH, Lin TL, Lee KXA, Yu MH, Shie MY. 3D-biofabricated chondrocyte-laden decellularized extracellular matrix-contained gelatin methacrylate auxetic scaffolds under cyclic tensile stimulation for cartilage regeneration. Biofabrication 2023; 15:045007. [PMID: 37429300 DOI: 10.1088/1758-5090/ace5e1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/12/2023]
Abstract
Three-dimensional (3D) hydrogel constructs can mimic features of the extracellular matrix (ECM) and have tailorable physicochemical properties to support and maintain the regeneration of articular cartilage. Various studies have shown that mechanical cues affect the cellular microenvironment and thereby influence cellular behavior. In this study, we fabricated an auxetic scaffold to investigate the effect of 3D tensile stimulation on chondrocyte behavior. Different concentrations of decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM) were mixed with fish gelatin methacrylate (FGelMa) and employed for the preparation of dECM/FGelMa auxetic bio-scaffolds using 3D biofabrication technology. We show that when human chondrocytes (HCs) were incorporated into these scaffolds, their proliferation and the expression of chondrogenesis-related markers increased with dECM content. The function of HC was influenced by cyclic tensile stimulation, as shown by increased production of the chondrogenesis-related markers, collagen II and glycosaminoglycans, with the involvement of the yes-associated protein 1 signaling pathway. The biofabricated auxetic scaffold represents an excellent platform for exploring interactions between cells and their mechanical microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Wen Chen
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, China Medical University, Taichung 406040, Taiwan
- x-Dimension Center for Medical Research and Translation, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 404332, Taiwan
- High Performance Materials Institute for x-Dimensional Printing, Asia University, Taichung City 41354, Taiwan
| | - Yen-Hong Lin
- x-Dimension Center for Medical Research and Translation, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 404332, Taiwan
| | - Tsung-Li Lin
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, China Medical University, Taichung 406040, Taiwan
- Department of Orthopedics, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 404332, Taiwan
- Department of Sports Medicine, College of Health Care, China Medical University, Taichung 406040, Taiwan
| | - Kai-Xing Alvin Lee
- Department of Orthopedics, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 404332, Taiwan
| | - Min-Hua Yu
- x-Dimension Center for Medical Research and Translation, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 404332, Taiwan
- Institute of Translational Medicine and New Drug Development, China Medical University, Taichung 406040, Taiwan
| | - Ming-You Shie
- x-Dimension Center for Medical Research and Translation, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 404332, Taiwan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, China Medical University, Taichung 406040, Taiwan
- School of Dentistry, China Medical University, Taichung 406040, Taiwan
- Department of Bioinformatics and Medical Engineering, Asia University, Taichung 41354, Taiwan
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Cameron AP, Gao S, Liu Y, Zhao CX. Impact of hydrogel biophysical properties on tumor spheroid growth and drug response. BIOMATERIALS ADVANCES 2023; 149:213421. [PMID: 37060634 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioadv.2023.213421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2022] [Revised: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/17/2023]
Abstract
The extracellular matrix (ECM) plays a critical role in regulating cell-matrix interactions during tumor progression. These interactions are due in large part to the biophysical properties responding to cancer cell interactions. Within in vitro models, the ECM is mimicked by hydrogels, which possess adjustable biophysical properties that are integral to tumor development. This work presents a systematic and comparative study on the impact of the biophysical properties of two widely used natural hydrogels, Matrigel and collagen gel, on tumor growth and drug response. The biophysical properties of Matrigel and collagen including complex modulus, loss tangent, diffusive permeability, and pore size, were characterised. Then the spheroid growth rates in these two hydrogels were monitored for spheroids with two different sizes (140 μm and 500 μm in diameters). An increased migratory growth was observed in the lower concentration of both the gels. The effect of spheroid incorporation within the hydrogel had a minimal impact on the hydrogel's complex modulus. Finally, 3D tumor models using different concentrations of hydrogels were applied for drug treatment using paclitaxel. Spheroids cultured in hydrogels with different concentrations showed different drug response, demonstrating the significant effect of the choice of hydrogels and their concentrations on the drug response results despite using the same spheroids. This study provides useful insights into the effect of hydrogel biophysical properties on spheroid growth and drug response and highlights the importance of hydrogel selection and in vitro model design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna P Cameron
- Australian institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Song Gao
- School of Chemical Engineering and Advanced Materials, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Yun Liu
- School of Chemical Engineering and Advanced Materials, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Chun-Xia Zhao
- Australian institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia; School of Chemical Engineering and Advanced Materials, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia.
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Synergistic Effect of Static Magnetic Fields and 3D-Printed Iron-Oxide-Nanoparticle-Containing Calcium Silicate/Poly-ε-Caprolactone Scaffolds for Bone Tissue Engineering. Cells 2022; 11:cells11243967. [PMID: 36552731 PMCID: PMC9776421 DOI: 10.3390/cells11243967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2022] [Revised: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
In scaffold-regulated bone regeneration, most three-dimensional (3D)-printed scaffolds do not provide physical stimulation to stem cells. In this study, a magnetic scaffold was fabricated using fused deposition modeling with calcium silicate (CS), iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe3O4), and poly-ε-caprolactone (PCL) as the matrix for internal magnetic sources. A static magnetic field was used as an external magnetic source. It was observed that 5% Fe3O4 provided a favorable combination of compressive strength (9.6 ± 0.9 MPa) and degradation rate (21.6 ± 1.9% for four weeks). Furthermore, the Fe3O4-containing scaffold increased in vitro bioactivity and Wharton's jelly mesenchymal stem cells' (WJMSCs) adhesion. Moreover, it was shown that the Fe3O4-containing scaffold enhanced WJMSCs' proliferation, alkaline phosphatase activity, and the osteogenic-related proteins of the scaffold. Under the synergistic effect of the static magnetic field, the CS scaffold containing Fe3O4 can not only enhance cell activity but also stimulate the simultaneous secretion of collagen I and osteocalcin. Overall, our results demonstrated that Fe3O4-containing CS/PCL scaffolds could be fabricated three dimensionally and combined with a static magnetic field to affect cell behaviors, potentially increasing the likelihood of clinical applications for bone tissue engineering.
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