Magnetic self-assembly of 3D multicellular microscaffolds: A biomimetic brain tumor-on-a-chip for drug delivery and selectivity testing

In the last years, the need for highly predictive brain cancer models to test new anticancer compounds and experimental therapeutic approaches is significantly increased. Realistic in vitro tumor brain-on-a-chip platforms would allow a more accurate selection of valid candidate drugs and nanomedicines, therefore alleviating the economical and ethical costs of unsuccessful studies in vivo. Here, we present a multi-functional self-assembled brain tumor-on-a-chip model characterized by 3D glioma cultures interfaced both to brain non-malignant cells of the peritumoral niche and to a 3D-real-scale blood-brain barrier (BBB) microfluidic system. This platform allowed us to screen multiple features of a promising anticancer drug, nutlin-3a, that are fundamental for the treatment of brain cancer, such as the BBB crossing capabilities, apoptotic efficacy against GBM cells, and side effects on non-malignant brain cells.