3D microfluidic tumor models for biomimetic engineering of glioma niche and detection of cell morphology, migration and phenotype change

Ling Lin; Ziyi He; Mingsha Jie; Jin-Ming Lin; Jie Zhang

doi:10.1016/j.talanta.2021.122702

3D microfluidic tumor models for biomimetic engineering of glioma niche and detection of cell morphology, migration and phenotype change

Talanta. 2021 Nov 1:234:122702. doi: 10.1016/j.talanta.2021.122702. Epub 2021 Jul 13.

Authors

Ling Lin¹, Ziyi He², Mingsha Jie², Jin-Ming Lin², Jie Zhang³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Bioengineering, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing, 100048, China. Electronic address: linling@btbu.edu.cn.
² Department of Chemistry, Beijing Key Laboratory of Microanalytical Methods and Instrumentation, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China.
³ Department of Chemistry, Beijing Key Laboratory of Microanalytical Methods and Instrumentation, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China; School of Life Sciences, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, China. Electronic address: zj@bucm.edu.cn.

PMID: 34364499
DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2021.122702

Abstract

In this work, an integrated 3-dimensional microfluidic device was developed for simulation of the immune microenvironment of glioma niche through the co-culture of three kinds of related cells. Glioma cells, endothelial cells and macrophages were co-cultured together in the microfluidic device, spatially separated by the design of a coffer structure and the use of hydrogel. This platform enabled separate monitoring of the morphology change and migration of cells, as well as molecular interactions between different kinds of cells. Tumor cells were found to exhibit EMT like shape change to become thinner, and sensitive perception and taxis toward macrophages. The influence of tumor cells and the microenvironment, macrophages would be re-educated and the phenotype could be changed from M1 (tumor-suppressive) to M2 (tumor-supportive), which could be validated through cytokines analysis. This 3D microfluidic tumor model provides a powerful tool for studying the biological properties of glioma niche.

Keywords: 3D microfluidic device; Cell analysis; Cell co-culture; Glioma niche; Tumor microenvironment.

MeSH terms

Biomimetics
Cell Line, Tumor
Coculture Techniques
Endothelial Cells
Glioma*
Humans
Microfluidics*
Phenotype
Tumor Microenvironment