Multilayer architecture microfluidic network array for combinatorial drug testing on 3D-cultured cells

Biofabrication. 2019 Jun 4;11(3):035024. doi: 10.1088/1758-5090/ab1f52.

Abstract

In vitro testing of drug compounds on cell models during the drug development process represents an indispensable step in the initial screening process. Although drug testing on three-dimensional (3D) cultured cells may provide a more accurate prediction of drug efficacy, it is relatively costly and time-consuming to perform compared with conventional 2D cultures due to the thick z-axis of the 3D models. In this study, we have presented a microfluidic platform with integrated pneumatic valves for producing a thin-gel 3D cell culture-based combinatorial drug screening array (3D-μCDS array). The multilayer architecture and microfluidic layout has a smaller device footprint than a single-layer microfluidic channel arrangement, making it well suited to scaling up for high-throughput combinatorial drug screening on 3D cell model. We performed 8 × 8 combination drug screening experiments with the device using two anti-cancer drugs (doxorubicin and paclitaxel) on MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 breast cancer cell lines for demonstration. Our results indicate that our 3D-μCDS array device allows the successful screening of multiple drug combinations while reducing the operation time and the number of sample/reagents required, making it an ideal tool for general combinatorial drug screening, as well as for applications using valuable tissues and clinical samples.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Culture Techniques / methods*
  • Collagen / pharmacology
  • Combinatorial Chemistry Techniques*
  • Diffusion
  • Drug Evaluation, Preclinical*
  • Equipment Design
  • Extracellular Matrix / chemistry
  • Fluorescence
  • Gels / chemistry
  • High-Throughput Screening Assays
  • Humans
  • Inhibitory Concentration 50
  • Microfluidics / instrumentation
  • Microfluidics / methods*
  • Rats
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured

Substances

  • Gels
  • Collagen