On-chip testing device for electrochemotherapeutic effects on human breast cells

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Cell Biology
• Cancer Research

Background:

• Electrochemotherapy (ECT) is a clinical cancer treatment utilizing electric pulses to enhance drug delivery.
• Conventional ECT assays often involve cumbersome cuvette-based methods.
• There is a need for streamlined, high-throughput platforms for in vitro ECT studies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a microfabricated, cell-based testing device for electrochemotherapy (ECT).
• To miniaturize the clinical electroporation setup while maintaining electric field distribution.
• To enable multiple, on-chip ECT assays from cell culture to final evaluation.

Main Methods:

• A microfabricated device with 2D planar electrodes was designed, mimicking clinical electroporation.
• Cell culture, electroporation, and cell-based assays were integrated onto a single chip.
• Propidium iodide uptake and T47D cell proliferation after bleomycin-induced ECT were assessed.

Main Results:

• The device successfully performed on-chip electrochemotherapy assays.
• Electroporation efficiency and cell proliferation were evaluated across varying electric field strengths and drug concentrations.
• The microsystem demonstrated advantages including multiple assays on a single chip and integrated workflow.

Conclusions:

• The developed microfabricated device offers a powerful platform for in vitro electrochemotherapy research.
• This technology facilitates drug discovery and the development of clinical ECT equipment.
• The on-chip system provides a miniaturized, efficient, and versatile tool for ECT studies.