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3D cell culture (Prostate cancer, Breast cancer)



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Published on 20 August 2020
Project leader

 Nathalie Picollet-D'hahan
Laboratoty of Biology and Biotechnology for Health
Biomics team
17 avenue des Martyrs
38 054 Grenoble cedex 09
Phone: 33 (0)4 38 78 67 78
Fax: 33 (0)4 38 78 59 17

3D Organoids: From organogenesis to carcinogenesis

We develop 3D model models (Figure 1) to understand the determinants that regulate normal development of prostatic tissue and how they may be disrupted in disease states such as cancer The originality of our research is to engineer and study prostate and breast organoids by using microfluidics (Figure 2) and innovative 3D lens-free imaging in collaboration with CEA/LETI. We aim at providing new insights in the mechanisms controlling epithelial differentiation and polarity of glandular tissues. To do so, RNAi-based screening approaches are performed to address issues in development and carcinogenesis.


Picollet-D'hahan N, Dolega ME, Liguori L, Marquette C, Le Gac S, Gidrol X and Martin DK
A 3D toolbox to enhance physiological relevance of human tissue models.
Trends in Biotechnology, 2016, 34(9): 757-769


Dolega ME, Abeille F, Picollet-D’hahan N and Gidrol X
Controlled 3D culture in Matrigel microbeads to analyze clonal acinar development.
Biomaterials, 2015, 52: 347-357


Organ-on-chip technology: New insights in exocrine function

Organs-on-chips are becoming a powerful technology for creating novel human organ and disease models. Our prostate-on-chip devices are developed by growing three-dimensional living cells in a dynamic microfluidic ‘chip’ environment and supported by 3D free-standing scaffolds (collaboration UGA/TIMC and 3d.fab platform of Lyon). Such organ-on-chip models mimic prostate or breast 3D architectures and function and support secretomics-based diagnosis and flow-based drug screening (Figure 3).


Picollet-D'hahan N, Gerbaud S, Kermarrec F, Alcaraz JP, Obeid P, Bhajun R, Guyon L, Sulpice E, Cinquin P, Dolega ME, Wagh J, Gidrol X and Martin DK
The modulation of attachment, growth and morphology of cancerous prostate cells by polyelectrolyte nanofilms.
Biomaterials, 2013, 34(38): 10099-10108
1654215 FR; 1654213 FR