A micro cell culture analog (microCCA) with 3-D hydrogel culture of multiple cell lines to assess metabolism-dependent cytotoxicity of anti-cancer drugs.
A microfluidic device with 3-D hydrogel cell cultures has been developed to test the cytotoxicity of anti-cancer drugs while reproducing multi-organ interactions. In this device, a micro cell culture analog (microCCA), cells embedded in 3-D hydrogels are cultured in separate chambers representing the liver, tumor, and marrow, which are connected by channels mimicking blood flow. While the microfluidic network provides a platform for mimicking the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles of a drug in humans, the 3-D hydrogel provides a more physiologically realistic environment to mimic the tissue than monolayer culture. Colon cancer cells (HCT-116) and hepatoma cells (HepG2/C3A) were encapsulated in Matrigel and cultured in the tumor and the liver chamber in a microCCA, respectively. Myeloblasts (Kasumi-1) were encapsulated in alginate in the marrow chamber; a stiffer hydrogel was necessary to prevent cell migration out of the matrix. The cytotoxic effect of Tegafur, an oral prodrug of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), on each cell line was tested using the microCCA with cell-embedded hydrogel. The comparison of experimental results using a 96-well microtiter plate and a microCCA demonstrated that the microCCA was able to reproduce the metabolism of Tegafur to 5-FU in the liver and consequent death of cells by 5-FU, while the cultures in a 96-well microtiter plate were unable to do so. The microCCA utilizing 3-D hydrogel cell cultures has potential as a platform for pharmacokinetic-based drug screening in a more physiologically realistic environment.
School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
Jong Hwan
JH
Sung
Michael L
ML
Shuler
D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002460:Cell Line; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004354:Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D004867:Equipment Design; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D042381:Granulocyte Precursor Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D045325:HCT116 Cells; D006801:Humans; D020100:Hydrogels; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D046210:Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D005641:Tegafur / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology
D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D020100:Hydrogels; D005641:Tegafur; D005472:Fluorouracil