In vitro assessment of cell-based drug delivery systems

Introduction:

Cell-based drug delivery systems (DDS) redefine active targeting by responding to chemical gradients and effectively crossing biological barriers. Discoidal microparticles, termed backpacks, enable this technology by avoiding phagocytosis and effectively labelling a variety of cell types [1]. However, the development process of these DDS lack robust in vitro methods for evaluating critical parameters such as cell penetration and accumulation kinetics. This research employs biologically complete microtumors to improve in vitro models and significantly reduce animal requirements.

Sanem Yilmaz – PhD Student, Bioengineering, Moffitt Cancer Center; Jacob Hensley – Research Associate, Bioengineering, Moffitt Cancer Center; Alfonso Pepe – Research Scientist, Bioengineering, Moffitt Cancer Center; Shirin Changizi – Postdoctoral Fellow, Bioengineering, Moffitt Cancer Center; Diego Pedro – Research Engineer, Bioengineering, Moffitt Cancer Center; Victor Madubueze – PhD Student, Bioengineering, Moffitt Cancer Center; Andrew Mayts – Research Associate, Bioengineering, Moffitt Cancer Center; Jose Serrano-Velez – BioImaging Director, Bioengineering, Moffitt Cancer Center; Duy Nguyen – Assistant Professor, Bioengineering, Moffitt Cancer Center; W. Gregory Sawyer – Professor, Bioengineering, Moffitt Cancer Center