Ordered micropattern arrays fabricated by lung-derived dECM hydrogels for chemotherapeutic drug screening

Aims: This study aims to evaluate ECM-coated micropattern arrays derived from decellularization of native porcine lungs as a novel three-dimensional cell culture platform.Methods: ECM derived from decellularization of native porcine lungs was exploited to prepare hydrogels. Then, dECM-coated micropattern arrays were fabricated at four different diameters (50, 100, 150 and 200 mu m) using polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). Two lung cancer cell lines, A549 and H1299, were tested on a dECM-coated micropattern array as a novel culture platform for cell adhesion, distribution, proliferation, viability, pheno-type expression, and drug screening to evaluate the cytotoxicity of paclitaxel, doxorubicin and cisplatin.Results: The ECM derived from decellularization of native porcine lungs supported cell adhesion, distribution, viability and proliferation better than collagen I and Matrigel as the coated matrix on the surface. Moreover, the optimal diameter of the micropattern arrays was 100-150 mu m, as determined by measuring the morphology, viability, proliferation and phenotype of the cancer cell spheroids. Cell spheroids of A549 and H1299 on dECM-coated micropattern arrays showed chemoresistance to anticancer drugs compared to that of the monolayer. The different distributions of HIF-1 alpha, MCL-1 (in the center) and Ki-67 and MRP2 (in the periphery) of the spheroids demonstrated the good establishment of basal-lateral polarity and explained the chemoresistance phenomenon of spheroids.Conclusions: This novel three-dimensional cell culture platform is stable and reliable for anticancer drug testing. Drug screening in dECM-coated micropattern arrays provides a powerful alternative to existing methods for drug testing and metabolic profiling in the drug discovery process.

Automated summary

The study demonstrates that ECM derived from decellularization of native porcine lungs provides better support for cell adhesion, distribution, viability, and proliferation. The optimal diameter for micropattern arrays is 100-150 μm.