Vascularized pancreas-on-a-chip device produced using a printable simulated extracellular matrix
Monika Hospodiuk-Karwowski, Kai Chi, Justin R. Pritchard, Jeffrey M. Catchmark
Abstract
-cells. Herein, a complex combination of the simulated ECM (sECM) has been examined with a comprehensive analysis of cell response and a variety of controls. The most promising results were obtained from group containing fibrin, collagen type I, Matrigel®, hyaluronic acid, methylcellulose, and two compounds of functionalized, ionically crosslinking bacterial cellulose (sECMbc). Even though the cell viability was not significantly impacted, the performance of group of sECMbc showed 2 to 4× higher sprouting number and length, 2 to 4× higher insulin secretion in static conditions, and 2 to 10× higher gene expression of VEGF-A, Endothelin-1, and NOS3 than the control group of fibrin matrix (sECMf). Each material was tested in a hydrogel-based, perfusable, pancreas-on-a-chip device and the best group-sECMbc has been tested with the drug Sunitinib to show the extended possibilities of the device for both diabetes-like screening as well as PDAC chemotherapeutics screening for potential personal medicine approach. It proved its functionality in seven days dynamic culture and is suitable as a physiological tissue model. Moreover, the device with the pancreatic-like spheroids was 3D bioprintable and perfusable.