Fig. 5

Examples of pancreatic cancer-on-chips. a Pancreas-on-a-chip to model fibrosis-related disorders. (i) Pancreatic ductal epithelial cells (PDCEs) were cultured inside the single-channel chip (ii) together with pancreatic islets (iii) to monitor the Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator (CFTR) function. Adapted from [158] with permissions from Nature Communications. b HepaChip® for the diagnosis and prognosis of PDAC. (i) Image of the chip with the 8 culture chambers. The electrodes and ridges present in each chamber are shown together with flow velocity and trajectory simulation. (ii) Live/Dead of the PDAC cells after 146 h of culture inside the HepaChip®. Adapted from [159] with permissions from Scientific Reports. c Organ-on-chip to model the invasion of PDAC tumor cells to blood vessels. (i) Two hollow cylindrical channels in the microfluidic device mimic the blood vessel and the pancreatic cancer duct, respectively. Endothelial cells (HUVEC) were seeded in the perfusable vessel, while pancreatic cells were cultured in the cancer duct. (ii) Representation of the average invasion distance of the PDAC cell line PD7591 when an FBS gradient is established and with/without the HUVEC cells. Speed migration is increased when the HUVECs are present. Adapted from [161] with permissions from Science Advances