Automated Uniform Spheroid Generation Platform for High Throughput Drug Screening Process
Kelvin C. C. Pong,
Yuen Sze Lai,
Roy Chi Hang Wong,
Alan Chun Kit Lee,
Sam C. T. Chow,
Jonathan C. W. Lam,
Ho Pui Ho,
Clarence T. T. Wong
Affiliations
Kelvin C. C. Pong
Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, New Territories, Hong Kong, China
Yuen Sze Lai
State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
Roy Chi Hang Wong
State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
Alan Chun Kit Lee
State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
Sam C. T. Chow
BioArchitec Group Limited, Hong Kong, China
Jonathan C. W. Lam
BioArchitec Group Limited, Hong Kong, China
Ho Pui Ho
Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, New Territories, Hong Kong, China
Clarence T. T. Wong
State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
Three-dimensional (3D) spheroid models are crucial for cancer research, offering more accurate insights into tumour biology and drug responses than traditional 2D cell cultures. However, inconsistent and low-throughput spheroid production has hindered their application in drug screening. Here, we present an automated high-throughput platform for a spheroid selection, fabrication, and sorting system (SFSS) to produce uniform gelatine-encapsulated spheroids (GESs) with high efficiency. SFSS integrates advanced imaging, analysis, photo-triggered fabrication, and microfluidic sorting to precisely control spheroid size, shape, and viability. Our data demonstrate that our SFSS can produce over 50 GESs with consistent size and circularity in 30 min with over 97% sorting accuracy while maintaining cell viability and structural integrity. We demonstrated that the GESs can be used for drug screening and potentially for various assays. Thus, the SFSS could significantly enhance the efficiency of generating uniform spheroids, facilitating their application in drug development to investigate complex biological systems and drug responses in a more physiologically relevant context.
