Alginate-based microfluidic system for tumor spheroid formation and anticancer agent screening.
We demonstrate a microfluidic system for long-term tumor cell culture and drug testing. Three-dimensional cell culture is critical in characterizing anticancer treatments since it may provide a better model than monolayer culture of tumor cells. Breast tumor cells were encapsulated within alginate which was gelled in situ within the microchannels. Tumor spheroid formation was observed several days after cell seeding, and various concentrations of doxorubicin were applied to the encapsulated cell aggregates. Drug effects on cell viability and proliferation were measured. In future, hydrogel-based microfluidic devices can comprise part of systems which replace labor intensive screening platforms currently implemented in the laboratory, and they address a need for improving preclinical testing of cancer cell sensitivity to anti-cancer drugs.
Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Michael C W
MC
Chen
Madhuja
M
Gupta
Karen C
KC
Cheung
D000464:Alginates / Q000737:chemistry; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D003470:Culture Media; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000494:pharmacology; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry; D004354:Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D020723:Glucuronic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006603:Hexuronic Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D020100:Hydrogels; D046210:Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D018874:Spheroids, Cellular / Q000473:pathology*; D013997:Time Factors
D000464:Alginates; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D003470:Culture Media; D004337:Drug Carriers; D006603:Hexuronic Acids; D020100:Hydrogels; D004317:Doxorubicin; D020723:Glucuronic Acid