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Updated: Apr 7, 2026
Modeling Ovarian Cancer Multicellular Spheroid Behavior in a Dynamic 3D Peritoneal Microdevice
Published on: February 18, 2017
A replenishable peritoneal implant for localized delivery and peritoneal fluid sampling in ovarian cancer
Aoibhin M Sheedy1,2,3,4,5, Mihir Shetty3,4, Anna Weis3,4
1Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering, College of Science and Engineering, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland.
Abstract:
Intraperitoneal (i.p.) therapy improves outcomes in abdominal cancers but remains underutilized due to complications from repurposed catheters. In this work, we present a replenishable therapeutic implant for repeated, localized delivery of therapies to the peritoneal cavity. In an ovarian cancer mouse model, expanded natural killer (eNK) cells were delivered once weekly and interleukin-15 (IL-15) thrice weekly. This regime reduced tumor burden compared to standard i.p. injection. The implant supports co-administration of chemotherapy, cytokines, monoclonal antibodies, or other protein-based therapies. Negative pressure applied via the port enabled longitudinal sampling of peritoneal fluid without additional surgical intervention. By reducing procedural burden and improving adaptability, the implant can help increase patient retention and therapeutic efficacy in ovarian cancer and other intra-abdominal cancers.
