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Updated: Mar 28, 2026
Quantifying the Brain Metastatic Tumor Micro-Environment using an Organ-On-A Chip 3D Model, Machine Learning, and Confocal Tomography
Published on: August 16, 2020
Recapitulation of complex transport and action of drugs at the tumor microenvironment using
Bumsoo Han1, Chunjing Qu2, Kinam Park3
1School of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA; Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA; Birck Nanotechnology Center, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA.
Abstract:
Targeted delivery aims to selectively distribute drugs to targeted tumor tissues but not to healthy tissues. This can address many clinical challenges by maximizing the efficacy but minimizing the toxicity of anti-cancer drugs. However, a complex tumor microenvironment poses various barriers hindering the transport of drugs and drug delivery systems. New tumor models that allow for the systematic study of these complex environments are highly desired to provide reliable test beds to develop drug delivery systems for targeted delivery. Recently, research efforts have yielded new in vitro tumor models, the so called tumor-microenvironment-on-chip, that recapitulate certain characteristics of the tumor microenvironment. These new models show benefits over other conventional tumor models, and have the potential to accelerate drug discovery and enable precision medicine. However, further research is warranted to overcome their limitations and to properly interpret the data obtained from these models. In this article, key features of the in vivo tumor microenvironment that are relevant to drug transport processes for targeted delivery were discussed, and the current status and challenges for developing in vitro transport model systems were reviewed.
Insights
New tumor models on chip offer promising platforms for studying targeted drug delivery, overcoming barriers in complex tumor microenvironments to improve anti-cancer therapy efficacy and reduce toxicity.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Oncology
- Drug Delivery Systems
Background:
- Targeted drug delivery aims to enhance anti-cancer drug efficacy while minimizing toxicity by concentrating agents in tumor tissues.
- The complex tumor microenvironment presents significant barriers to effective drug transport and delivery.
- Developing reliable in vitro models is crucial for systematically studying these barriers and advancing targeted delivery strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review key features of the in vivo tumor microenvironment relevant to drug transport for targeted delivery.
- To assess the current status and challenges in developing in vitro tumor microenvironment models.
- To highlight the potential of novel tumor-microenvironment-on-chip models for drug delivery research.
Main Methods:
- Review of in vivo tumor microenvironment characteristics impacting drug transport.
- Analysis of existing in vitro tumor models and their limitations.
- Discussion of emerging tumor-microenvironment-on-chip technologies.
Main Results:
- In vivo tumor microenvironments exhibit complex barriers that impede drug delivery systems.
- Current in vitro models partially recapitulate tumor microenvironment features but have limitations.
- Tumor-microenvironment-on-chip models show promise in mimicking in vivo conditions for drug transport studies.
Conclusions:
- Novel in vitro tumor models, such as tumor-microenvironment-on-chip, are essential for advancing targeted drug delivery research.
- Further development and validation of these models are needed to overcome limitations and enable precision medicine.
- These advanced models can accelerate the development of more effective and less toxic anti-cancer therapies.
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