A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
Genipin‐Crosslinked, Silane‐Anchored 3D Tumor–Stroma Microtissues for High‐Content On‐Chip Drug Testing; 
Authors: Le Manach, Doriane; Kowsari-Esfahan, Reza; Reszczynska, Emilia; Nghe, Philippe; Nees, Matthias
Publisher: Wiley
Publication year: 2026
Journal: Advanced Healthcare Materials
Article number: e03566
ISSN: 2192-2640
eISSN: 2192-2659
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/adhm.202503566
Publication's open availability at the time of reporting: Open Access
Publication channel's open availability : Partially Open Access publication channel
Web address : https://doi.org/10.1002/adhm.202503566
Self-archived copy’s web address: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/523753114
Self-archived copy's licence: CC BY NC ND
Self-archived copy's version: Publisher`s PDF
Physiologically relevant 3D tumor models incorporating extracellular matrix (ECM) and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are essential for studying tumor progression and drug resistance, yet often suffer from hydrogel contraction and instability-especially in microfluidic formats, where ECM deformation hampers long-term culture and quantitative imaging. Here, we present a microfluidic tumor-fibroblast co-culture platform for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) that overcomes these limitations via a dual strategy: APTES-mediated surface silanization anchors the ECM to the chip, combined with Genipin-based crosslinking, which modestly increases hydrogel stiffness and progressively reinforces the network without compromising cell viability, as confirmed by time- and frequency-resolved rheology. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) verified successful collagen crosslinking while preserving reactive & horbar;OH and & horbar;NH2 groups, enabling covalent bonding to the APTES-functionalized chip. The platform further integrates semi-automated segmentation and high-content imaging to quantify dynamic phenotypic drug responses at both single-cell and multicellular/tissue organization levels. Drug chemosensitivity assays, including co-culture with patient-derived CAFs, enabled quantitative assessment of clinically relevant chemoprotective effects. By combining biomaterial engineering with functional microfluidic design, this system enables reproducible, physiologically relevant modeling of tumor-fibroblast interactions, offering a scalable tool for preclinical drug chemosensitivity screening and clinical translation.
Keywords:
3D tumor-fibroblast co-culture, extracellular matrix stabilization, Genipin crosslinking, high-content imaging, in vitro chemosensitivity assays, semi-automated segmentation, silane-functionalization microfluidic devices
Downloadable publication This is an electronic reprint of the original article. |
Funding information in the publication:
This research was funded by the Polish National Science Centre (NCN): UMO-2020/37/B/NZ4/03920, and DEC-2021/41/B/NZ7/03786, the EMBO Scientific Exchange Grant (no. 10698), the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA): PPI/APM/2019/1/00089/U/00001, the Jane & Aatos Erkko Foundation, project "Matrix Matters", and the Academy of Finland "Phenotypic Screening for Cancer Drug Discovery"/Consortium: PESCADoR (309372). This work was also supported by Institut Pierre-Gilles de Gennes ANR-10-EQPX-34, EU Horizon 2020 Grant ERC PoC (101100823), and the PSL QLife initiative.