Assessment of drug treatment response using primary human colon cancer cell spheroids cultivated in a microfluidic mixer chip

Abstract

Chemotherapy is one of the main therapeutic methods for tumor treatment. However, improving the accuracy of personalized medication for chemotherapy remains challenging. In this study, we developed a novel microfluidic chip that features herringbone protrusions and three-dimensional (3D) microcolumn holes created from microcolumn arrays. This design allows for precise control over the size and number of 3D tumor cell spheroids. As tumor cells aggregate into clusters within the chip, an integrated microfluidic mixer enhances liquid mixing and improves contact between the spheroids and the culture medium, promoting their growth. By combining this 3D spheroid approach with a concentration gradient mixer, we effectively conducted dynamic and high-throughput evaluations of anti-tumor drugs. The chip successfully identified varying sensitivities of tumor cells from different patients to these drugs, aligning with clinical observations from postoperative follow-ups. These features indicated that the tumor cell spheroid integrated microfluidic chip is effective for drug evaluation methodologies and holds promising implications for clinical applications.