HYDROGEL-BASED MICROFLUIDIC CELL CULTURE SYSTEMS FOR DRUG SCREENING

摘要

We are developing a new cell culture system to be utilized in preclinical studies for cancer. The culture system can be used to better evaluate treatment effects on breast cancer cells. The ability to culture, characterize, image, and screen cells within a single automated, portable platform would allow to determine the most effective drug treatment for a specific patient using cell-based testing on biopsy samples. This approach will allow us to screen many prospective drug compounds in a high-throughput fashion and create more realistic tissue models in vitro than is currently possible. Our microfluidic system enables cell culture, spheroid formation, dynamic control of the microenvironment, and in situ drug screening, with large potential impact to improve health care. Here we present preliminary results in anticancer agent screening.