Name: microfluidic device for recreating a tumor microenvironment in vitro
Uploaded: 2011-11-20T14:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Microfluidic Device for Recreating a Tumor Microenvironment in Vitro at JoVE.com

This work was supported by the National Institute of Health grant # 1R01CA120825-01A1, the Collaborative Biomedical Research (CBR) Program at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and the Isenberg Scholarship for Bhushan J. Toley. We gratefully acknowledge the valuable contribution of James Schafer, the videographer, narrator, and editor of this video.

1. Device Fabrication
Replication of microfluidic features in elastomeric materials was based on the method described by Duffy et al.1
<ol>
	<li>Mix elastomer (polydimethylsiloxane; PDMS) and curing agent from the Silicone Elastomer Kit (Dow Corning, Midland, MI) in a 9:1 weight ratio and pour over the master to form a 4 mm thick layer. Degas to remove air bubbles and cure the mixture at 60&deg;C for 5 hours. Peel cured PDMS from the mold to obtain a stamp of flow feature...

<ol>
	<li>Duffy, D. C., McDonald, J. C., Schueller, O. J., Whitesides, G. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Rapid+Prototyping+of+Microfluidic+Systems+in+Poly(dimethylsiloxane).">Rapid Prototyping of Microfluidic Systems in Poly(dimethylsiloxane).</a> Anal. Chem. 70, 4974-4984 (1998).</li><li>Kelm, J. M., Timmins, N. E., Brown, C. J., Fussenegger, M., Nielsen, L. K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Method+for+generation+of+homogeneous+multicellular+tumor+spheroids+applicable+to+a+wide+variety+of+cell+types.">Method for generation of homogeneous multicellular tumor spheroids applicable to a wide variety of cell types.</a> Biotechnol. Bioeng. 83, 173-180 (2003).</li><li>Timmins, N. E., Nielsen, L. K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Generation+of+multicellular+tumor+spheroids+by+the+hanging-drop+method.">Generation of multicellular tumor spheroids by the hanging-drop method.</a> Methods. Mol. Med. 140, 141-151 (2007).</li><li>Kasinskas, R. W., Forbes, N. S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Salmonella+typhimurium+specifically+chemotax+and+proliferate+in+heterogeneous+tumor+tissue+in+vitro.">Salmonella typhimurium specifically chemotax and proliferate in heterogeneous tumor tissue in vitro.</a> Biotechnol. Bioeng. 94, 710-721 (2006).</li><li>Walsh, C. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+multipurpose+microfluidic+device+designed+to+mimic+microenvironment+gradients+and+develop+targeted+cancer+therapeutics.">A multipurpose microfluidic device designed to mimic microenvironment gradients and develop targeted cancer therapeutics.</a> Lab. Chip. 9, 545-554 (2009).</li><li>Lankelma, J., Fernandez Luque, R., Dekker, H., Schinkel, W., Pinedo, H. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+mathematical+model+of+drug+transport+in+human+breast+cancer.">A mathematical model of drug transport in human breast cancer.</a> Microvasc. Res. 59, 149-161 (2000).</li><li>Less, J. R., Skalak, T. C., Sevick, E. M., Jain, R. K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Microvascular+architecture+in+a+mammary+carcinoma:+branching+patterns+and+vessel+dimensions.">Microvascular architecture in a mammary carcinoma: branching patterns and vessel dimensions.</a> Cancer. Res. 51, 265-273 (1991).</li><li>Brown, J. M., Giaccia, A. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+unique+physiology+of+solid+tumors:+opportunities+(and+problems)+for+cancer+therapy.">The unique physiology of solid tumors: opportunities (and problems) for cancer therapy.</a> Cancer. Res. 58, 1408-1416 (1998).</li><li>Thomlinson, R. H., Gray, L. H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+histological+structure+of+some+human+lung+cancers+and+the+possible+implications+for+radiotherapy.">The histological structure of some human lung cancers and the possible implications for radiotherapy.</a> Br. J. Cancer. 9, 539-549 (1955).</li><li>Minchinton, A. I., Tannock, I. F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Drug+penetration+in+solid+tumours.">Drug penetration in solid tumours.</a> Nat. Rev. Cancer. 6, 583-592 (2006).</li></ol>

The vasculature in tumors is sparse and ill developed7,8. There are regions located far (>100 &mu;m) from the 
blood vessels that are inaccessible to nutrients and drugs supplied though the vasculature9. The resulting heterogeneous microenvironment contributes to the limited efficacy of many chemotherapeutics10. The microfluidic device developed here recreates a heterogeneous tumor microenvironment characterized by proliferating, quiescent and apoptotic or necrotic cells, in vitro. Cells ...

<table border="1">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<th>Name of reagent</th>
			<th>Company</th>
			<th>Catalog number</th>
			<th>Comments</th>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Silicone elastomer kit</td>
			<td>Ellsworth Adhesives</td>
			<td>184 Sil Elast Kit</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Miltex biopsy punch</td>
			<td>MedexSupply</td>
			<td>MTX-33-31AA</td>
			<td>1.5 mm</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>PTFE tubing</td>
			<td>Cole Parmer</td>
			<td>EW-06417-31</td>
			<td>0.032" ID</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Male luer lock connector</td>
			<td>Qosina</td>
			<td>65111</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Barbed female luer lock connector</td>
			<td>Qosina</td>
			<td>11556</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Shut-off valve</td>
			<td>Idex Health and Science</td>
			<td>P-721</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Y-connector</td>
			<td>Idex Health and Science</td>
			<td>P-513</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>20G 1.5" needles</td>
			<td>BD Bioscience</td>
			<td>305176</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Trypsin-EDTA</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td>25300-054</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>HEPES</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>H-4034</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>CaspGLOW Fluorescein</td>
			<td>Biovision</td>
			<td>K183-25</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>CaspGLOW Red</td>
			<td>Biovision</td>
			<td>K193-25 </td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Doxorubicin Hydrochloride</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>44583</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>LS174T</td>
			<td>ATCC</td>
			<td>CCL-188</td>
			<td>Human Colon Carcinoma cell line</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>T47D</td>
			<td>ATCC</td>
			<td>HTB-133</td>
			<td>Human Ductal Carcinoma cell line</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>MDA-MB-231</td>
			<td>ATCC</td>
			<td>HTB-26</td>
			<td>Human Mammary Adenocarcinoma cell line</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

microfluidic device for recreating a tumor microenvironment in vitro

We have developed a microfluidic device that mimics the delivery and systemic clearance of drugs to heterogeneous three-dimensional tumor tissues in vitro. Nutrients delivered by vasculature fail to reach all parts of tumors, giving rise to heterogeneous microenvironments consisting of viable, quiescent and necrotic cell types. Many cancer drugs fail to effectively penetrate and treat all types of cells because of this heterogeneity. Monolayers of cancer cells do not mimic this heterogeneity, making it difficult to test cancer drugs with a suitable in vitro model. Our microfluidic devices were fabricated out of PDMS using soft lithography. Multicellular tumor spheroids, formed by the hanging drop method, were inserted and constrained into rectangular chambers on the device and maintained with continuous medium perfusion on one side. The rectangular shape of chambers on the device created linear gradients within tissue. Fluorescent stains were used to quantify the variability in apoptosis within tissue. Tumors on the device were treated with the fluorescent chemotherapeutic drug doxorubicin, time-lapse microscopy was used to monitor its diffusion into tissue, and the effective diffusion coefficient was estimated. The hanging drop method allowed quick formation of uniform spheroids from several cancer cell lines. The device enabled growth of spheroids for up to 3 days. Cells in proximity of flowing medium were minimally apoptotic and those far from the channel were more apoptotic, thereby accurately mimicking regions in tumors adjacent to blood vessels. The estimated value of the doxorubicin diffusion coefficient agreed with a previously reported value in human breast cancer. Because the penetration and retention of drugs in solid tumors affects their efficacy, we believe that this device is an important tool in understanding the behavior of drugs, and developing new cancer therapeutics.

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Microfluidic Device for Recreating a Tumor Microenvironment in Vitro at JoVE.com

Microfluidic Device for Recreating a Tumor Microenvironment in Vitro

We present the procedure for fabrication and operation of a microfluidic device that recreates heterogeneous tumor microenvironments in vitro. The variability in apoptosis within tumor tissue was quantified using fluorescent stains and the effective diffusion coefficient of the chemotherapeutic drug doxorubicin into tumor tissue was evaluated.

Microfluidic Device for Recreating a Tumor Microenvironment in Vitro

We have developed a microfluidic device that mimics the delivery and systemic clearance of drugs to heterogeneous three-dimensional tumor tissues in ...

Research

JoVE Journal

Bioengineering

A Microfluidic Device for Studying Multiple Distinct Strains

The study of cell responses to environmental changes poses many experimental challenges: cells need to be imaged under changing conditions, often in a ...

Tissue Engineering of Tumor Stromal Microenvironment with Application to Cancer Cell Invasion

3D organotypic cultures of epithelial cells on a matrix embedded with mesenchymal cells are widely used to study epithelial cell differentiation and ...

Protocol for Biofilm Streamer Formation in a Microfluidic Device with Micro-pillars

Several bacterial species possess the ability to attach to surfaces and colonize them in the form of thin films called biofilms. Biofilms that grow in ...

Analyzing Mixing Inhomogeneity in a Microfluidic Device by Microscale Schlieren Technique

In this paper, we introduce the use of microscale schlieren technique to measure mixing inhomogeneity in a microfluidic device. The microscale schlieren ...

Eye Irritation Test (EIT) for Hazard Identification of Eye Irritating Chemicals using Reconstructed Human Cornea-like Epithelial (RhCE) Tissue Model

Eye Irritation Test EIT for Hazard Identification of Eye Irritating Chemicals using Reconstructed Human Cornea-like Epithelial RhCE Tissue Model

To comply with the Seventh Amendment to the EU Cosmetics Directive and EU REACH legislation, validated non-animal alternative methods for reliable and ...

Fully Automated Centrifugal Microfluidic Device for Ultrasensitive Protein Detection from Whole Blood

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is a promising method to detect small amount of proteins in biological samples. The devices providing a platform ...

Co-culture of Living Microbiome with Microengineered Human Intestinal Villi in a Gut-on-a-Chip Microfluidic Device

Here, we describe a protocol to perform long-term co-culture of multi-species human gut microbiome with microengineered intestinal villi in a human ...

Perfusable Vascular Network with a Tissue Model in a Microfluidic Device

A spheroid (a multicellular aggregate) is regarded as a good model of living tissues in the human body. Despite the significant advancement in the ...

Advanced 3D Liver Models for In vitro Genotoxicity Testing Following Long-Term Nanomaterial Exposure

Due to the rapid development and implementation of a diverse array of engineered nanomaterials (ENM), exposure to ENM is inevitable and the development of ...

Generation of Dynamical Environmental Conditions using a High-Throughput Microfluidic Device

Mimicking in vivo environmental conditions is crucial for in vitro studies on complex life machinery. However, current techniques targeting live cells and ...