Tissue-specific micropattern array chips fabricated via decellularized ECM for 3D cell culture

Xinglong Zhu; Yi Li; Hulin Long; Zuoyu Liang; Yuting He; Yanyan Zhou; Shun Li; Ji Bao

doi:10.1016/j.mex.2023.102463

Tissue-specific micropattern array chips fabricated via decellularized ECM for 3D cell culture

MethodsX. 2023 Oct 31:11:102463. doi: 10.1016/j.mex.2023.102463. eCollection 2023 Dec.

Authors

Xinglong Zhu¹, Yi Li^{2

3}, Hulin Long⁴, Zuoyu Liang¹, Yuting He¹, Yanyan Zhou¹, Shun Li⁵, Ji Bao¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pathology, Institute of Clinical Pathology, Key Laboratory of Transplant Engineering and Immunology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China.
² Institute of Respiratory Health, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China.
³ Precision Medicine Key Laboratory, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China.
⁴ Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China.
⁵ Department of Biophysics, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan 610054, China.

Abstract

Multicellular three-dimensional (3D) in vitro models, such as cell spheroids and organoids, can significantly improve the viability, histomorphology, genotype stability, function and drug metabolism of cells [1], [2], [3]. In general, several culture methods of 3D models, including the hanging drop, microwell-mesh and hydrogel encapsulating methods, have difficulty building a standard mode and controlling the size and arrangement of cell spheroids or organoids, which could severely affect the authenticity and repeatability of experimental results [4]. Another key factor in 3D in vitro models is the extracellular matrix (ECM), which can determine cell viability, proliferation, differentiation, function, migration and organization [5]. In this study, micropattern array chips combined with decellularized ECM (dECM) not only provide tissue-specific ECM but also control the size and arrangement of 3D models. •Methods have been established to demonstrate the use of dECM as a bioink to generate dECM-coated micropattern array chips by microcontact printing.•The micropattern can limit cell growth and migration, and cells spontaneously assemble into cell spheroids with uniform size and orderly arrangement.

Keywords: Cell spheroids; Decellularized extracellular matrix; Micropatterned arrays; Organoids; The tissue specific micropattern array chips fabricated via dECM for 3D cell culture.