Neuroblastoma is the most common extracranial malignant tumor in pediatrics. Patients with the disease have a 40-50% survival rate over 5 years. Neuroblastoma has heterogeneous presentations, meaning there is significant variation in genotypic and phenotypic properties of the disease among patients. To improve patient outcomes, better drug testing strategies are crucial, but also challenging. The unique presentation of the cancer necessitates the development of in vitro neuroblastoma tumor models that can be used to test individualized treatment options. To better understand this disease, the Coburn Lab at WPI models neuroblastoma by culturing cells in silk fibroin scaffolds and stacking them in multiple layers, mimicking a solid tumor. The team aimed to improve upon this tumor modeling system. To accomplish this, the group created a fluidic bioreactor that integrates fluid flow, conserves resources, reduces contamination risk, and increases ease of use. The device consists of a flow chamber, a modified chip to secure the scaffolds, and a circulatory perfusion system. Through verification and validation testing, the team determined that the new bioreactor better addressed the client's need for an improved drug efficacy testing system.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Ralston, Coulter Q.
• Inger, Elizabeth
• Boermeester, Sarah M.

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• 16626
• E-project-033021-111803

Mot-clé

• Fluidics
• Tumor Microenvironment
• Bioreactor
• Neuroblastoma
• Disease Modeling
• Tissue Engineering

Advisor

• Coburn, Jeannine M

Year

• 2021

Date created

• 2021-03-30

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Biomedical Engineering

Rights statement

• In Copyright

Dernière modification

• 2021-08-28