Tumor ‐On‐A‐Chip Models for Predicting In Vivo Nanoparticle Behavior

Tumor-on-a-chip models are promising devices for the prediction of nanoparticle behavior in living systems. In biological fluids, nanoparticles will acquire a protein corona that will affect nanoparticle behavior. In this review, the state of the art of tumor-on-a-chip models are summarized for investigating nanoparticle delivery advocating that corona formation and phagocytosing cells should receive more attention in the future. AbstractNanosized drug formulations are broadly explored for the improvement of cancer therapy. Prediction of in vivo nanoparticle (NP) behavior, however, is challenging, given the complexity of the tumor and its microenvironment. Microfluidic tumor-on-a-chip models are gaining popularity for the in vitro testing of nanoparticle targeting under conditions that simulate the 3D tumor (microenvironment). In this review, following a description of the tumor microenvironment (TME), the state of the art regarding tumor-on-a-chip models for investigating nanoparticle delivery to solid tumors is summarized. The models are classified based on the degree of compartmentalization (single/multi-compartment) and cell composition (tumor only/tumor microenvironment). The physiological relevance of the models is critically evaluated. Overall, microfluidic tumor-on-a-chip models greatly improve the simulation of the TME  in comparison to 2D tissue cultures and static 3D spheroid models and contribute to the understanding of nanoparticle behavior. Interestingly, two i...
Source: Small - Category: Nanotechnology Authors: Tags: Review Source Type: research