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Heilala M, Lehtonen A, Arasalo O, Peura A, Pokki J, Ikkala O, Nonappa, Klefström J, Munne PM. Fibrin Stiffness Regulates Phenotypic Plasticity of Metastatic Breast Cancer Cells. Adv Healthc Mater 2023; 12:e2301137. [PMID: 37671812 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202301137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Revised: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/07/2023]
Abstract
The extracellular matrix (ECM)-regulated phenotypic plasticity is crucial for metastatic progression of triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). While ECM faithful cell-based models are available for in situ and invasive tumors, such as cell aggregate cultures in reconstituted basement membrane and in collagenous gels, there are no ECM faithful models for metastatic circulating tumor cells (CTCs). Such models are essential to represent the stage of metastasis where clinical relevance and therapeutic opportunities are significant. Here, CTC-like DU4475 TNBC cells are cultured in mechanically tunable 3D fibrin hydrogels. This is motivated, as in circulation fibrin aids CTC survival by forming a protective coating reducing shear stress and immune cell-mediated cytotoxicity and promotes several stages of late metastatic processes at the interface between circulation and tissue. This work shows that fibrin hydrogels support DU4475 cell growth, resulting in spheroid formation. Furthermore, increasing fibrin stiffness from 57 to 175 Pa leads to highly motile, actin and tubulin containing cellular protrusions, which are associated with specific cell morphology and gene expression patterns that markedly differ from basement membrane or suspension cultures. Thus, mechanically tunable fibrin gels reveal specific matrix-based regulation of TNBC cell phenotype and offer scaffolds for CTC-like cells with better mechano-biological properties than liquid.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Heilala
- Department of Applied Physics, Aalto University, P.O. Box 15100, Aalto, Espoo, FI-00076, Finland
| | - Arttu Lehtonen
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Automation, Aalto University, P.O. Box 12200, Aalto, Espoo, FI-00076, Finland
| | - Ossi Arasalo
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Automation, Aalto University, P.O. Box 12200, Aalto, Espoo, FI-00076, Finland
| | - Aino Peura
- Finnish Cancer Institute and FICAN South, Helsinki University Hospital & Cancer Cell Circuitry Laboratory, Translational Cancer Medicine, Medical Faculty, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 63 (Haartmaninkatu 8), Helsinki, 00014, Finland
| | - Juho Pokki
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Automation, Aalto University, P.O. Box 12200, Aalto, Espoo, FI-00076, Finland
| | - Olli Ikkala
- Department of Applied Physics, Aalto University, P.O. Box 15100, Aalto, Espoo, FI-00076, Finland
| | - Nonappa
- Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Tampere University, P.O. Box 541, Tampere, FI-33720, Finland
| | - Juha Klefström
- Finnish Cancer Institute and FICAN South, Helsinki University Hospital & Cancer Cell Circuitry Laboratory, Translational Cancer Medicine, Medical Faculty, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 63 (Haartmaninkatu 8), Helsinki, 00014, Finland
| | - Pauliina M Munne
- Finnish Cancer Institute and FICAN South, Helsinki University Hospital & Cancer Cell Circuitry Laboratory, Translational Cancer Medicine, Medical Faculty, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 63 (Haartmaninkatu 8), Helsinki, 00014, Finland
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Ben Meriem Z, Mateo T, Faccini J, Denais C, Dusfour-Castan R, Guynet C, Merle T, Suzanne M, Di-Luoffo M, Guillermet-Guibert J, Alric B, Landiech S, Malaquin L, Mesnilgrente F, Laborde A, Mazenq L, Courson R, Delarue M. A microfluidic mechano-chemostat for tissues and organisms reveals that confined growth is accompanied with increased macromolecular crowding. LAB ON A CHIP 2023; 23:4445-4455. [PMID: 37740366 DOI: 10.1039/d3lc00313b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/24/2023]
Abstract
Conventional culture conditions are oftentimes insufficient to study tissues, organisms, or 3D multicellular assemblies. They lack both dynamic chemical and mechanical control over the microenvironment. While specific microfluidic devices have been developed to address chemical control, they often do not allow the control of compressive forces emerging when cells proliferate in a confined environment. Here, we present a generic microfluidic device to control both chemical and mechanical compressive forces. This device relies on the use of sliding elements consisting of microfabricated rods that can be inserted inside a microfluidic device. Sliding elements enable the creation of reconfigurable closed culture chambers for the study of whole organisms or model micro-tissues. By confining the micro-tissues, we studied the biophysical impact of growth-induced pressure and showed that this mechanical stress is associated with an increase in macromolecular crowding, shedding light on this understudied type of mechanical stress. Our mechano-chemostat allows the long-term culture of biological samples and can be used to study both the impact of specific conditions as well as the consequences of mechanical compression.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tiphaine Mateo
- LAAS-CNRS, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, Toulouse, France.
| | - Julien Faccini
- LAAS-CNRS, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, Toulouse, France.
| | - Céline Denais
- LAAS-CNRS, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, Toulouse, France.
| | - Romane Dusfour-Castan
- Laboratoire de Microbiologie et de Génétique Moléculaires, Centre de Biologie Intégrative (CBI), CNRS, Université de Toulouse, F-31000, Toulouse, France
| | - Catherine Guynet
- Laboratoire de Microbiologie et de Génétique Moléculaires, Centre de Biologie Intégrative (CBI), CNRS, Université de Toulouse, F-31000, Toulouse, France
| | - Tatiana Merle
- Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology unit (MCD), Centre de Biologie Intégrative (CBI), Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, France
| | - Magali Suzanne
- Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology unit (MCD), Centre de Biologie Intégrative (CBI), Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, France
| | - Mickaël Di-Luoffo
- INSERM U1037, CRCT, Université de Toulouse, F-31037 Toulouse, France
| | - Julie Guillermet-Guibert
- INSERM U1037, CRCT, Université de Toulouse, F-31037 Toulouse, France
- Laboratoire d'Excellence TouCAN, F-31037 Toulouse, France
| | - Baptiste Alric
- LAAS-CNRS, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, Toulouse, France.
| | | | | | | | - Adrian Laborde
- LAAS-CNRS, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, Toulouse, France.
| | - Laurent Mazenq
- LAAS-CNRS, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, Toulouse, France.
| | | | - Morgan Delarue
- LAAS-CNRS, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, Toulouse, France.
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3
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Guo T, Zou X, Sundar S, Jia X, Dhong C. In situ measurement of viscoelastic properties of cellular monolayers via graphene strain sensing of elastohydrodynamic phenomena. LAB ON A CHIP 2023; 23:4067-4078. [PMID: 37610268 PMCID: PMC10498944 DOI: 10.1039/d3lc00457k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/24/2023]
Abstract
Recent advances recognize that the viscoelastic properties of epithelial structures play important roles in biology and disease modeling. However, accessing the viscoelastic properties of multicellular structures in mechanistic or drug-screening applications has challenges in repeatability, accuracy, and practical implementation. Here, we present a microfluidic platform that leverages elastohydrodynamic phenomena, sensed by strain sensors made from graphene decorated with palladium nanoislands, to measure the viscoelasticity of cellular monolayers in situ, without using chemical labels or specialized equipment. We demonstrate platform utility with two systems: cell dissociation following trypsinization, where viscoelastic properties change over minutes, and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, where changes occur over days. These cellular events could only be resolved with our platform's higher resolution: viscoelastic relaxation time constants of λ = 14.5 ± 0.4 s-1 for intact epithelial monolayers, compared to λ = 13.4 ± 15.0 s-1 in other platforms, which represents a 30-fold improvement. By rapidly assessing combined contributions from cell stiffness and intercellular interactions, we anticipate that the platform will hasten the translation of new mechanical biomarkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianzheng Guo
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, USA.
| | - Xiaoyu Zou
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, USA.
| | - Shalini Sundar
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, USA
| | - Xinqiao Jia
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, USA
| | - Charles Dhong
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, USA
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Dow LP, Parmar T, Marchetti MC, Pruitt BL. Engineering tools for quantifying and manipulating forces in epithelia. BIOPHYSICS REVIEWS 2023; 4:021303. [PMID: 38510344 PMCID: PMC10903508 DOI: 10.1063/5.0142537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
The integrity of epithelia is maintained within dynamic mechanical environments during tissue development and homeostasis. Understanding how epithelial cells mechanosignal and respond collectively or individually is critical to providing insight into developmental and (patho)physiological processes. Yet, inferring or mimicking mechanical forces and downstream mechanical signaling as they occur in epithelia presents unique challenges. A variety of in vitro approaches have been used to dissect the role of mechanics in regulating epithelia organization. Here, we review approaches and results from research into how epithelial cells communicate through mechanical cues to maintain tissue organization and integrity. We summarize the unique advantages and disadvantages of various reduced-order model systems to guide researchers in choosing appropriate experimental systems. These model systems include 3D, 2D, and 1D micromanipulation methods, single cell studies, and noninvasive force inference and measurement techniques. We also highlight a number of in silico biophysical models that are informed by in vitro and in vivo observations. Together, a combination of theoretical and experimental models will aid future experiment designs and provide predictive insight into mechanically driven behaviors of epithelial dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Toshi Parmar
- Department of Physics, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California 93106, USA
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Esser L, Springer R, Dreissen G, Lövenich L, Konrad J, Hampe N, Merkel R, Hoffmann B, Noetzel E. Elastomeric Pillar Cages Modulate Actomyosin Contractility of Epithelial Microtissues by Substrate Stiffness and Topography. Cells 2023; 12:cells12091256. [PMID: 37174659 PMCID: PMC10177551 DOI: 10.3390/cells12091256] [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: 03/25/2023] [Revised: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Cell contractility regulates epithelial tissue geometry development and homeostasis. The underlying mechanobiological regulation circuits are poorly understood and experimentally challenging. We developed an elastomeric pillar cage (EPC) array to quantify cell contractility as a mechanoresponse of epithelial microtissues to substrate stiffness and topography. The spatially confined EPC geometry consisted of 24 circularly arranged slender pillars (1.2 MPa, height: 50 µm; diameter: 10 µm, distance: 5 µm). These high-aspect-ratio pillars were confined at both ends by planar substrates with different stiffness (0.15-1.2 MPa). Analytical modeling and finite elements simulation retrieved cell forces from pillar displacements. For evaluation, highly contractile myofibroblasts and cardiomyocytes were assessed to demonstrate that the EPC device can resolve static and dynamic cellular force modes. Human breast (MCF10A) and skin (HaCaT) cells grew as adherence junction-stabilized 3D microtissues within the EPC geometry. Planar substrate areas triggered the spread of monolayered clusters with substrate stiffness-dependent actin stress fiber (SF)-formation and substantial single-cell actomyosin contractility (150-200 nN). Within the same continuous microtissues, the pillar-ring topography induced the growth of bilayered cell tubes. The low effective pillar stiffness overwrote cellular sensing of the high substrate stiffness and induced SF-lacking roundish cell shapes with extremely low cortical actin tension (11-15 nN). This work introduced a versatile biophysical tool to explore mechanobiological regulation circuits driving low- and high-tensional states during microtissue development and homeostasis. EPC arrays facilitate simultaneously analyzing the impact of planar substrate stiffness and topography on microtissue contractility, hence microtissue geometry and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisann Esser
- Institute of Biological Information Processing 2 (IBI-2): Mechanobiology, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52428 Jülich, Germany
| | - Ronald Springer
- Institute of Biological Information Processing 2 (IBI-2): Mechanobiology, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52428 Jülich, Germany
| | - Georg Dreissen
- Institute of Biological Information Processing 2 (IBI-2): Mechanobiology, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52428 Jülich, Germany
| | - Lukas Lövenich
- Institute of Biological Information Processing 2 (IBI-2): Mechanobiology, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52428 Jülich, Germany
| | - Jens Konrad
- Institute of Biological Information Processing 2 (IBI-2): Mechanobiology, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52428 Jülich, Germany
| | - Nico Hampe
- Institute of Biological Information Processing 2 (IBI-2): Mechanobiology, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52428 Jülich, Germany
| | - Rudolf Merkel
- Institute of Biological Information Processing 2 (IBI-2): Mechanobiology, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52428 Jülich, Germany
| | - Bernd Hoffmann
- Institute of Biological Information Processing 2 (IBI-2): Mechanobiology, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52428 Jülich, Germany
| | - Erik Noetzel
- Institute of Biological Information Processing 2 (IBI-2): Mechanobiology, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52428 Jülich, Germany
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Morales IA, Boghdady CM, Campbell BE, Moraes C. Integrating mechanical sensor readouts into organ-on-a-chip platforms. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:1060895. [PMID: 36588933 PMCID: PMC9800895 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.1060895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Organs-on-a-chip have emerged as next-generation tissue engineered models to accurately capture realistic human tissue behaviour, thereby addressing many of the challenges associated with using animal models in research. Mechanical features of the culture environment have emerged as being critically important in designing organs-on-a-chip, as they play important roles in both stimulating realistic tissue formation and function, as well as capturing integrative elements of homeostasis, tissue function, and tissue degeneration in response to external insult and injury. Despite the demonstrated impact of incorporating mechanical cues in these models, strategies to measure these mechanical tissue features in microfluidically-compatible formats directly on-chip are relatively limited. In this review, we first describe general microfluidically-compatible Organs-on-a-chip sensing strategies, and categorize these advances based on the specific advantages of incorporating them on-chip. We then consider foundational and recent advances in mechanical analysis techniques spanning cellular to tissue length scales; and discuss their integration into Organs-on-a-chips for more effective drug screening, disease modeling, and characterization of biological dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Christopher Moraes
- Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada,Department of Chemical Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada,Department of Biomedical Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada,*Correspondence: Christopher Moraes,
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7
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Boghdady CM, Kalashnikov N, Mok S, McCaffrey L, Moraes C. Revisiting tissue tensegrity: Biomaterial-based approaches to measure forces across length scales. APL Bioeng 2021; 5:041501. [PMID: 34632250 PMCID: PMC8487350 DOI: 10.1063/5.0046093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell-generated forces play a foundational role in tissue dynamics and homeostasis and are critically important in several biological processes, including cell migration, wound healing, morphogenesis, and cancer metastasis. Quantifying such forces in vivo is technically challenging and requires novel strategies that capture mechanical information across molecular, cellular, and tissue length scales, while allowing these studies to be performed in physiologically realistic biological models. Advanced biomaterials can be designed to non-destructively measure these stresses in vitro, and here, we review mechanical characterizations and force-sensing biomaterial-based technologies to provide insight into the mechanical nature of tissue processes. We specifically and uniquely focus on the use of these techniques to identify characteristics of cell and tissue “tensegrity:” the hierarchical and modular interplay between tension and compression that provide biological tissues with remarkable mechanical properties and behaviors. Based on these observed patterns, we highlight and discuss the emerging role of tensegrity at multiple length scales in tissue dynamics from homeostasis, to morphogenesis, to pathological dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nikita Kalashnikov
- Department of Chemical Engineering, McGill University, Montréal, Québec H3A 0C5, Canada
| | - Stephanie Mok
- Department of Chemical Engineering, McGill University, Montréal, Québec H3A 0C5, Canada
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8
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Bromage TG. The oronasopharyngeal space and renewed formalization of the functional matrix hypothesis. Cranio 2021; 39:275-277. [PMID: 34264168 DOI: 10.1080/08869634.2021.1934779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Timothy G Bromage
- Department of Molecular Pathobiology, New York University College of Dentistry, New York, NY, USA
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Nguyen AK, Kilian KA. Physicochemical Tools for Visualizing and Quantifying Cell-Generated Forces. ACS Chem Biol 2020; 15:1731-1746. [PMID: 32530602 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.0c00304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
To discern how mechanical forces coordinate biological outcomes, methods that map cell-generated forces in a spatiotemporal manner, and at cellular length scales, are critical. In their native environment, whether it be within compact multicellular three-dimensional structures or sparsely populated fibrillar networks of the extracellular matrix, cells are constantly exposed to a slew of physical forces acting on them from all directions. At the same time, cells exert highly localized forces of their own on their surroundings and on neighboring cells. Together, the generation and transmission of these forces can control diverse cellular activities and behavior as well as influence cell fate decisions. To thoroughly understand these processes, we must first be able to characterize and measure such forces. However, our experimental needs and technical capabilities are in discord-while it is apparent that we should study cell-generated forces within more biologically relevant 3D environments, this goal remains challenging because of caveats associated with complex "sensing-transduction-readout" modalities. In this Review, we will discuss the latest techniques for measuring cell-generated forces. We will highlight recent advances in traction force microscopy and examine new alternative approaches for quantifying cell-generated forces, both of individual cells and within 3D tissues. Finally, we will explore the future direction of novel cellular force-sensing tools in the context of mechanobiology and next-generation biomaterials design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley K. Nguyen
- School of Chemistry, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Australian Centre for Nanomedicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
| | - Kristopher A. Kilian
- School of Chemistry, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Australian Centre for Nanomedicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
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A Dynamic Hanging-Drop System for Mesenchymal Stem Cell Culture. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21124298. [PMID: 32560269 PMCID: PMC7352343 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21124298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2020] [Revised: 06/02/2020] [Accepted: 06/13/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
There have been many microfluid technologies combined with hanging-drop for cell culture gotten developed in the past decade. A common problem within these devices is that the cell suspension introduced at the central inlet could cause a number of cells in each microwell to not regularize. Also, the instability of droplets during the spheroid formation remains an unsolved ordeal. In this study, we designed a microfluidic-based hanging-drop culture system with the design of taper-tube that can increase the stability of droplets while enhancing the rate of liquid exchange. A ring is surrounding the taper-tube. The ring can hold the cells to enable us to seed an adequate amount of cells before perfusion. Moreover, during the period of cell culture, the mechanical force around the cell is relatively low to prevent stem cells from differentiate and maintain the phenotype. As a result of our hanging system design, cells are designed to accumulate at the bottom of the droplet. This method enhances convenience for observation activities and analysis of experiments. Thus, this microfluid chip can be used as an in vitro platform representing in vivo physiological conditions, and can be useful in regenerative therapy.
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