3D Cancer Model Microfluidic Drug Screening Platform CSR Project

3D Cancer model & drug screening

Objective

• To develop the proof of concept of a microfluidic platform for the generation of a large array of breast tumor spheroids., To characterize the structure and function of the spheroids in terms of size and cell density, cell-cell and cell-ECM connections, cell viability, oxygen, and nutrient transport., To study the effects of anti-cancer drug supply rate, and ultrasound parameters (energy and frequency) on the chemosensitivity of the breast tumor spheroids.

Description

• The development of effective anti-cancer therapies remains a significant challenge since many therapies that are promising in preclinical studies fail when they are applied to clinical settings., One of the key challenges that limit progress in the development of new cancer treatments is the lack of well-developed preclinical models that capture the complexity and dynamic nature of tumor microenvironments. The importance of understanding the interactions between tumors and their microenvironment has been widely recognized but yet not comprehensively addressed. An efficient spheroids-on-a-chip platform that offers precise control over the spheroid size and meets the in vivo cell density requirement, utilizes a biomimetic ECM, and incorporates physiological flow while supporting the growth of patient-derived cells is yet to be realized.

Impact

• Technology for producing 3D cancer models closely mimicking the tumor microenvironment., New scientific understanding of the interaction of anti-cancer drugs with different cancer sub-types., Prototype of a microfluidic platform for anti-cancer drug screening., IP and Licensing.