Modulation of Matrix Softness and Interstitial Flow for 3D Cell Culture Using a Cell-Microenvironment-on-a-Chip System


Clay N. E., Shin K., Ozcelikkale A., Lee M. K., Rich M. H., Kim D. H., ...More

ACS BIOMATERIALS SCIENCE & ENGINEERING, vol.2, no.11, pp.1968-1975, 2016 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 2 Issue: 11
  • Publication Date: 2016
  • Doi Number: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.6b00379
  • Journal Name: ACS BIOMATERIALS SCIENCE & ENGINEERING
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.1968-1975
  • Keywords: hydraulic conductivity, collagen hydrogel, tumor microenvironment, microfluidic flow, polyethylene glycol, ESTROGEN-RECEPTOR-ALPHA, BREAST-CANCER CELLS, COMPLEX TRANSPORT, COLLAGEN PEPTIDE, HYDROGELS, MECHANOTRANSDUCTION, ACTIVATION, TRANSITION, MECHANISMS, PHENOTYPE
  • Middle East Technical University Affiliated: No

Abstract

In the past several decades, significant efforts have been devoted to recapitulating the in vivo tissue microenvironment within an in vitro platform. However, it is still challenging to recreate de novo tissue with physiologically relevant matrix properties and fluid flow. To this end, this study demonstrates a method to independently tailor matrix stiffness and interstitial fluid flow using a cell-microenvironment-on-a-chip (CMOC) platform. Collagen-polyethylene glycol gels tailored to present controlled stiffness and hydraulic conductivity were fabricated in a microfluidic chip. The chip was assembled to continuously create a steady flow of media through the gel. In the C-MOC platform, interstitial flow mitigated the effects of matrix softness on breast cancer cell behavior, according to an immunostaining-based analysis of estrogen receptor-a (ER-a), integrin and E-cadherin. This advanced cell culture platform serves to engineer tissue similar to in vitro tissue and contribute to better understanding and regulating of the biological roles of extracellular microenvironments.