Engineering Breast Cancer Mammospheres Using Vibration

Abstract

Cancer organoids are increasingly being used as choice model for studying cancer biology. However, creating uniform cancer organoids is a challenge. Here we describe an easy method to engineer uniform cancer organoids. In our experiment, we generated calcium‐alginate drops to encapsulate cells and use as 3D tumor spheroid models. We used a low‐cost, oil‐free, simple and efficient method for making uniform drops so our results could be accurate. We added a periodic vibration to a continuous jet of alginate solution mixed with breast cancer cells by using a mini rotation motor and we let the drops fall into a calcium bath. The job of the vibration is to cut the jet into drops of the same size, but there were other parameters that changed the results. To ensure uniformity, we adjusted the following parameters: the nozzle tip diameter, the material of the nozzle, the vibration frequency, and the velocity of the syringe pump that produced the jet. After finding the best combinations of all the parameters, we were able to produce uniform drops of different sizes. We found that the breast cancer cells were encapsulated so the droplets act as a more realistic and efficient way to model tumors. These tumor models can be used to test drug penetration and find new anticancer treatments. The models can also be modified to simulate cancer size and concentration, and measure differences in drug penetration efficacy as a result.