Microfluidic droplet encapsulation-guided organoid growth promotes parental tumor phenotype recapitulation

Abstract

Patient-derived organoids are gaining incremental popularity in both basic sciences and translational applications toward precision medicine and revolutionized drug discovery. However, for tumor organoids, challenges remain in low rates of organoid growth and tumor cell purity, that is, recapitulation of tumor phenotypes in constructed organoids. Here, we report a method of microfluidic droplet encapsulation that provides structural guidance for tumor cell growth and organization, where they develop into tumor organoids with high purity and high rates of modeling success, as compared to the classical organoid modeling method, that is, non-engineered organoids. The modeling efficacy and organoid quality are examined in patient-derived samples, covering esophagus, lung and colorectal cancer tissues, all proving significance in droplet-engineered organoids, as demonstrated by histological examinations.