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Updated: Mar 9, 2026
Microfluidic Co-Culture Models for Dissecting the Immune Response in in vitro Tumor Microenvironments
Published on: April 30, 2021
3D microvascular model recapitulates the diffuse large B-cell lymphoma tumor microenvironment in vitro
Robert G Mannino1, Adriana N Santiago-Miranda2, Pallab Pradhan2
1The Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Tech and Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA. wilbur.lam@emory.edu and The Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA and Emory University School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Atlanta, GA, USA and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Aflac Cancer & Blood Disorders Center, Atlanta, GA, USA and Institute of Electronics and Nanotechnology, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Researchers developed a novel lymphoma-on-chip model to study diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) tumor microenvironments. This innovative in vitro platform accurately models complex cellular interactions, aiding in the development of new DLBCL treatment strategies.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Cancer Biology
- Microfluidics
Background:
- Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is an aggressive cancer with complex tumor microenvironments.
- Understanding cellular interactions within the DLBCL tumor microenvironment is crucial for effective treatment strategies.
- Existing in vitro models fail to accurately recapitulate the in vivo tumor microenvironment of DLBCL.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop an advanced in vitro model for studying the DLBCL tumor microenvironment.
- To create a platform that accurately models interactions between immune cells, cancer cells, and endothelial cells.
- To enable spatiotemporal analysis of drug diffusion and targeted treatment strategies in DLBCL.
Main Methods:
- Development of a "lymphoma-on-chip" model using a hydrogel-based tumor construct.
- Incorporation of a vascularized, perfusable microchannel within the tumor model.
- Utilizing a novel, facile microfabrication technique with common laboratory materials.
Main Results:
- The model successfully recapitulates key complexities and interactions of the in vivo DLBCL tumor microenvironment.
- Perfusion capabilities allow for the study of targeted treatments and spatiotemporal diffusion of reagents.
- The microfabrication process yields reliable and precise microvessels within the tumor model.
Conclusions:
- A novel lymphoma-on-chip model provides an accessible tool for studying the DLBCL tumor microenvironment.
- This platform has profound implications for advancing drug delivery and treatment design for DLBCL.
- The model facilitates research across diverse disciplines by enabling study of previously inaccessible tumor microenvironment aspects.
