Date Approved

7-18-2017

Embargo Period

7-18-2018

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

MS Mechanical Engineering

Department

Mechanical Engineering

College

Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering

Advisor

Beachley, Vince

Committee Member 1

Merrill, Thomas

Committee Member 2

Vernengo, Andrea J.

Keywords

cancer, diagnostics, high-throughput, multicellular, spheroid, tumor

Subject(s)

Cancer--Treatment; Tumors--Analysis; Cell culture

Disciplines

Biomedical Engineering and Bioengineering

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to design and optimize a system for the high-throughput analysis of multicellular tumor spheroids (MCTS), and validate the system through the study of a complex biological model. The system was successfully created and optimized, allowing the histological recovery of MCTS at rates up to 90% for microarrays of 24-spheroids. Arrays of 96-spheroids were recovered at rates up to 86%. The system was used to study the penetration of 5k Da-polyethylene coated superparamagnetic iron-oxide nanoparticles (5k-PEG SPIONs) into HTB-126 breast cancer spheroids cultured to a mean diameter of 486 micrometer (± 25.2 micrometer). Results were compared to an identical study using 2D cultures. Positive staining for the SPION dosage of 100 microgram/milliliter in 2D culture regardless of incubation time was observed along with a lack of staining for all other concentrations in both 2D and 3D. SPION incubation led to necrosis in breast cancer spheroids after 3 days.

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