title: Droplet-based microfluidic system to form and separate multicellular spheroids using magnetic nanoparticles.
abstract: The importance of creating a three-dimensional (3-D) multicellular spheroid has recently been gaining attention due to the limitations of monolayer cell culture to precisely mimic in vivo structure and cellular interactions. Due to this emerging interest, researchers have utilized new tools, such as microfluidic devices, that allow high-throughput and precise size control to produce multicellular spheroids. We have developed a droplet-based microfluidic system that can encapsulate both cells and magnetic nanoparticles within alginate beads to mimic the function of a multicellular tumor spheroid. Cells were entrapped within the alginate beads along with magnetic nanoparticles, and the beads of a relatively uniform size (diameters of 85% of the beads were 170-190 μm) were formed in the oil phase. These beads were passed through parallel streamlines of oil and culture medium, where the beads were magnetically transferred into the medium phase from the oil phase using an external magnetic force. This microfluidic chip eliminates additional steps for collecting the spheroids from the oil phase and transferring them to culture medium. Ultimately, the overall spheroid formation process can be achieved on a single microchip.
authors: Interdisciplinary Program of Bioengineering, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 151-744, Republic of Korea.
authors: Sungjun
authors: S
authors: Yoon
authors: Jeong Ah
authors: JA
authors: Kim
authors: Seung Hwan
authors: SH
authors: Lee
authors: Minsoo
authors: M
authors: Kim
authors: Tai Hyun
authors: TH
authors: Park
mesh_terms: D000464:Alginates / Q000737:chemistry; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000633:toxicity; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D020723:Glucuronic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D057809:HEK293 Cells; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006603:Hexuronic Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D058185:Magnetite Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D046210:Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000633:toxicity; D018874:Spheroids, Cellular / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D000464:Alginates; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D006603:Hexuronic Acids; D058185:Magnetite Nanoparticles; D020723:Glucuronic Acid; D017239:Paclitaxel