Chemotaxis-driven assembly of endothelial barrier in a tumor-on-a-chip platform.
The integration of three-dimensional micropatterning with microfluidics provides a unique opportunity to create perfusable tissue constructs in vitro. Herein, we have used this approach to create a tumor-on-a-chip with an endothelial barrier. Specifically, we photopatterned a mixture of endothelial cells and cancer spheroids within a gelatin methacrylate (GelMA) hydrogel inside a microfluidic device. The differential motility of endothelial and cancer cells in response to a controlled morphogen gradient across the cell-laden network drove the migration of endothelial cells to the periphery while maintaining the cancer cells within the interior of the hydrogel. The resultant endothelial cell layer forming cell-cell contact via VE-cadherin junctions was found to encompass the entire GelMA hydrogel structure. Furthermore, we have also examined the potential of such a tumor-on-a-chip system as a drug screening platform using doxorubicin, a model cancer drug.
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Related Subject Headings
- Tumor Microenvironment
- Spheroids, Cellular
- Microfluidics
- Methacrylates
- MCF-7 Cells
- Lab-On-A-Chip Devices
- Humans
- Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells
- Gelatin
- Endothelial Cells
Citation
Published In
DOI
EISSN
Publication Date
Volume
Issue
Start / End Page
Location
Related Subject Headings
- Tumor Microenvironment
- Spheroids, Cellular
- Microfluidics
- Methacrylates
- MCF-7 Cells
- Lab-On-A-Chip Devices
- Humans
- Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells
- Gelatin
- Endothelial Cells