A Pathomimetic Colorectal Tumor‐on‐a‐Chip for In Vitro Reconstitution of the Primary Colorectal Cancer

The development of an in vitro colorectal cancer (CRC) model that reconstructs the physiopathological microenvironment of human colorectal cancer shows great potential in accelerating the study of CRC mechanisms and the development of anti‐CRC drugs. To this end, a pathomimetic colorectal tumor‐on‐a‐chip (CRT‐chip) that can effectively recapitulate the in vivo dynamic physiology and pathology of primary CRC is proposed. It not only allows controllable seeding and cultivation of CRC cells to emulate the site‐specific occurrence of primary CRC, but also provides continuous low‐speed flows and peristalsis‐like deformation on colorectum epithelium to simulate the fluid shearing and peristalsis in human colorectum. Moreover, a channel that transports nutrients to CRC cells is designed specifically to mimic the function of tumor vessels. Based on the pathomimetic CRT‐chip, the therapeutic effect of a photothermal anticancer drug was tested and quantified, exhibiting its great potentials in in vitro evaluation of anti‐CRC drugs. A pathomimetic CRT‐chip is proposed to recapitulate the in vivo dynamic physiology and pathology of primary CRC. It allows controllable seeding and cultivation of CRC cells, provides dynamic flows and peristalsis‐like deformation on colorectum epithelium, and utilizes a vessel‐like channel to convey nutrients to CRC cells. Based on the CRT‐chip, the therapeutic effect of a photothermal anticancer drug is tested, exhibiting its great potentials in in vitro evaluation of anti‐CRC drugs.