A 3D-Bioprinted Vascularized Glioblastoma-on-a-Chip for Studying the Impact of Simulated Microgravity as a Novel Pre-Clinical Approach in Brain Tumor Therapy

Abstract

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is one of the most aggressive malignant brain tumors and urgently requires the development of new therapeutic strategies. In this study, an innovative hybrid in vitro vascularized GBM-on-a-chip model is presented as a strategic integration of microfluidics and 3D bioprinting technologies. The system can recreate the compartmentalized brain tumor microenvironment, comprising the functional blood brain barrier (BBB) and the adjacent 3D perivascular tumor niche, by selectively mimicking physiological shear stress and cell–cell, cell–matrix mechanical interaction. The GBM-on-a-chip model was evaluated under simulated microgravity (µG) condition as a form of mechanical unloading showing a significant cell morphological and mechanotransduction response thereby indicating that gravitational forces play an important role in glioblastoma mechanical regulation. The proposed GBM-on-a-chip represents a meaningful biological tool for further research in cancer mechanobiology and pre-clinical approach in brain tumor therapy.