title: Microfluidic 3D cell culture: from tools to tissue models.
abstract: The transition from 2D to 3D cell culture techniques is an important step in a trend towards better biomimetic tissue models. Microfluidics allows spatial control over fluids in micrometer-sized channels has become a valuable tool to further increase the physiological relevance of 3D cell culture by enabling spatially controlled co-cultures, perfusion flow and spatial control over of signaling gradients. This paper reviews most important developments in microfluidic 3D culture since 2012. Most efforts were exerted in the field of vasculature, both as a tissue on its own and as part of cancer models. We observe that the focus is shifting from tool building to implementation of specific tissue models. The next big challenge for the field is the full validation of these models and subsequently the implementation of these models in drug development pipelines of the pharmaceutical industry and ultimately in personalized medicine applications.
authors.affiliation: Division of Analytical Biosciences, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: van Duinen
authors.affiliation: Division of Analytical Biosciences, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, The Netherlands; Mimetas BV, Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Sebastiaan J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Trietsch
authors.affiliation: Mimetas BV, Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jos
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Joore
authors.affiliation: Division of Analytical Biosciences, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, The Netherlands; Mimetas BV, Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vulto
authors.affiliation: Division of Analytical Biosciences, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, The Netherlands. Electronic address: hankemeier@lacdr.leidenuniv.nl.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hankemeier
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D032701:Biomimetics; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D006801:Humans; D046210:Microfluidic Analytical Techniques; D044085:Microfluidics / Q000379:methods*; D009369:Neoplasms; D046509:Tissue Culture Techniques