Chemotaxis of leukemic cells on in-vitro bone marrow model

• Main Author: Chua, Sean Ing Loon
• Other Authors: Chong Seow Khoon, Mark
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2015
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Bioengineering
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/64749
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

As the potential of patient-specific treatment for leukemia becomes more promising, it is important to develop a patient-specific tumour model that can be used to test drug efficacy before they are administered to the patient. Most in-vitro model developed so far are cumbersome and difficult to translate into a clinically feasible device. Therefore, there is a need for a microfluidic chip that is capable of separating the leukemic cells from patient’s sample in order to create a functional and physiologically relevant in-vitro tumour model. Here, we describe a method using a microfluidic chip designed with three channels. The two side channels permit the flow of the leukemic cells as well as stromal layer cells necessary to replicate the in vivo niche. The middle chamber contains the collagen matrix where the behaviour of the leukemic cells is monitored. We showed that by using stromal and mesenchymal stem cells, we could set up a viable co-culture model that induced the migration of leukemic cells into the matrix. The spatial distribution of the migrating cells closely replicates that of a 3D culture environment. Some of the cells captured in the matrix demonstrated proliferative and self-renewal capabilities. These captured leukemic cells on-chip could serve as an in-vitro tumour model and be used for drug tests. If successful, the device could become a physiologically relevant model that has the potential to be translated into a clinical tool for treating patients with leukemia.