Engineering Cell‐Compatible Paper Chips for Cell Culturing, Drug Screening, and Mass Spectrometric Sensing

“…Although we visualized the trapped C. elegans by using the GFP (Figure 2b), the opacity of paper did not let much light pass through and did not provide high-resolution images in 3D. To enable direct and visual observation, we used paper-like transparent polycarbonate substrates for the culture system [19]. The system used the multi-laminate structure of the substrates to mimic the worm's in vivo 3D environment.…”

Section: Transparent 3d Culture Systems For C Elegansmentioning

confidence: 99%

Paper-Supported High-Throughput 3D Culturing, Trapping, and Monitoring of Caenorhabditis Elegans

2020

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We developed an innovative paper-based platform for high-throughput culturing, trapping, and monitoring of C. elegans. A 96-well array was readily fabricated by placing a nutrient-replenished paper substrate on a micromachined 96-well plastic frame, providing high-throughput 3D culturing environments and in situ analysis of the worms. The paper allows C. elegans to pass through the porous and aquatic paper matrix until the worms grow and reach the next developmental stages with the increased body size comparable to the paper pores. When the diameter of C. elegans becomes larger than the pore size of the paper substrate, the worms are trapped and immobilized for further high-throughput imaging and analysis. This work will offer a simple yet powerful technique for high-throughput sorting and monitoring of C. elegans at a different larval stage by controlling and choosing different pore sizes of paper. Furthermore, we developed another type of 3D culturing system by using paper-like transparent polycarbonate substrates for higher resolution imaging. The device used the multi-laminate structure of the polycarbonate layers as a scaffold to mimic the worm’s 3D natural habitats. Since the substrate is thin, mechanically strong, and largely porous, the layered structure allowed C. elegans to move and behave freely in 3D and promoted the efficient growth of both C. elegans and their primary food, E. coli. The transparency of the structure facilitated visualization of the worms under a microscope. Development, fertility, and dynamic behavior of C. elegans in the 3D culture platform outperformed those of the standard 2D cultivation technique.

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“…Chen et al adapted the polycarbonate paper scaffold to overcome the limitations of conventional papers, such as light scattering, roughness, and low adhesion of cells . They showed that cells are well attached to the surface of the polycarbonate papers and imaged cells clearly with a bright field microscope.…”

Section: Microphysiological Models Of Human Cancermentioning

confidence: 99%

Microphysiological Systems as Enabling Tools for Modeling Complexity in the Tumor Microenvironment and Accelerating Cancer Drug Development

Kim

Habbit

et al. 2019

Adv Funct Materials

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Tumor cell heterogeneity with distinct phenotypes, genotypes, and epigenetic states as well as the complex tumor microenvironment is major challenges for cancer diagnosis and treatment. There have been substantial advances in our knowledge of tumor biology and in the capabilities of available biological analysis tools; however, the absence of physiologically relevant in vitro testing platforms limits our ability to gain an in-depth understanding of the role of the tumor microenvironment in cancer pathology. In this review, recent advances in engineered tumor microenvironments to advance cancer research and drug discovery are presented, including tumor spheroids, microfluidic chips, paper scaffolds, hydrogel-based engineered tissues, 3D bioprinted scaffolds, and multiscale topography. Furthermore, how these technologies address the specific characteristics of the native tumor microenvironment is described. Through the comparison of these biomimetic 3D tumor models to conventional 2D culture models, the validity and physiological relevance of these platforms for fundamental in vitro studies of the tumor biology, as well as their potential use in drug screening applications, is also discussed.

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Engineering Cell‐Compatible Paper Chips for Cell Culturing, Drug Screening, and Mass Spectrometric Sensing

Cited by 40 publications

References 32 publications

Controlled assembly of heterotypic cells in a core–shell scaffold: organ in a droplet

Controlled assembly of heterotypic cells in a core–shell scaffold: organ in a droplet

Paper-Supported High-Throughput 3D Culturing, Trapping, and Monitoring of Caenorhabditis Elegans

Microphysiological Systems as Enabling Tools for Modeling Complexity in the Tumor Microenvironment and Accelerating Cancer Drug Development

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