Issue 18, 2021

Scaffold-free generation of heterotypic cell spheroids using acoustofluidics

Abstract

3D cell cultures such as cell spheroids are widely used for tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, and translational medicine, but challenges remain in recapitulating the architectural complexity and spatiotemporal heterogeneity of tissues. Thus, we developed a scaffold-free and versatile acoustofluidic device to fabricate heterotypic cell spheroids with complexity over cell architectures and components. By varying the concentrations of cell suspension, we can precisely control the size of spheroids aggregated by a contact-free acoustic radiation force. By tuning the cell components including tumor cells, fibroblasts, and endothelial cells, heterotypic spheroids were controllably fabricated. These heterotypic spheroids can be used as a proof-of concept to model the spatial organization of tumor tissues. We demonstrated that the assembled components can self-assemble into layered structures as instructed by their cadherin expression. Finally, we demonstrated the acoustic assembly of mouse mammary gland components into spheroids and observed their maturation in culture. To conclude, we developed an acoustofluidic platform to fabricate complex spheroids with multiple components. We envision that this platform will pave the way for the high accuracy of spheroid fabrication and offer broad applications in numerous areas, such as tumor research, tissue engineering, developmental biology, and drug discovery.

Graphical abstract: Scaffold-free generation of heterotypic cell spheroids using acoustofluidics

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
04 iyn 2021
Accepted
26 iyl 2021
First published
26 iyl 2021

Lab Chip, 2021,21, 3498-3508

Scaffold-free generation of heterotypic cell spheroids using acoustofluidics

Z. Wu, B. Chen, Y. Wu, Y. Xia, H. Chen, Z. Gong, H. Hu, Z. Ding and S. Guo, Lab Chip, 2021, 21, 3498 DOI: 10.1039/D1LC00496D

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