Abstract
Chemotherapy remains the primary systemic treatment for patients with
neuroblastoma, but the lack of appropriate in vitro tumor
microenvironment models has resulted in suboptimal efficacy of
chemotherapeutic agents. In this study, we propose innovative
bioresponsive hydrogel microfibers that replicate the mechanical
properties of extracellular matrix surrounding neuroblastoma cells for
assessing tumor drug responses. These microfibers are composed of an
alginate/poly (N-Isopropyl acrylamide) shell and a carboxymethyl
cellulose core, fabricated by microfluidic technology. Due to the
precise manipulation afforded by microfluidics, it is possible to
continuously generate fibers that encapsulate cells with uniform size
and precise structure. Additionally, the rapid temperature response
characteristics enabled the microfibers to mimic the mechanical
properties of the extracellular matrix, thereby regulating the cellular
pressure environment and rapidly forming highly active three-dimensional
tumor spheroids. Ultimately, our findings demonstrate that neuroblastoma
spheres within the microfibers display varying sensitivities to
different chemotherapy drugs under distinct external pressure
conditions. In conclusion, this biomimetic extracellular matrix
microfiber offers a dependable foundation for replicating the
neuroblastoma microenvironment and facilitating the assessment of
clinical drug efficacy.