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Engel N, Hoffmann T, Behrendt F, Liebing P, Weber C, Gottschaldt M, Schubert US. Cryogels Based on Poly(2-oxazoline)s through Development of Bi- and Trifunctional Cross-Linkers Incorporating End Groups with Adjustable Stability. Macromolecules 2024; 57:2915-2927. [PMID: 38560346 PMCID: PMC10977347 DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.3c02030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
1,4-Bis(iodomethyl)benzene and 1,3,5-tris(iodomethyl)benzene were used as initiators for the cationic ring-opening polymerization (CROP) of 2-ethyl-2-oxazoline (EtOx) and its copolymerization with tert-butyl (3-(4,5-dihydrooxazol-2-yl)propyl)carbamate (BocOx) or methyl 3-(4,5-dihydrooxazol-2-yl)propanoate (MestOx). Kinetic studies confirmed the applicability of these initiators. Termination with suitable nucleophiles resulted in two- and three-armed cross-linkers featuring acrylate, methacrylate, piperazine-acrylamide, and piperazine-methacrylamide as polymerizable ω-end groups. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy confirmed the successful attachment of the respective ω-end groups at all initiation sites for every prepared cross-linkers. Except for acrylate, each ω-end group remained stable during deprotection of BocOx containing cross-linkers. The cryogels were prepared using EtOx-based cross-linkers, as confirmed by solid-state NMR spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. Stability tests revealed a complete dissolution of the acrylate-containing gels at pH = 14, whereas the piperazine-acrylamide-based cryogels featured excellent hydrolytic stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nora Engel
- Laboratory
of Organic Chemistry and Macromolecular Chemistry (IOMC), Friedrich Schiller University at Jena, Humboldtstraße 10, 07743 Jena, Germany
- Jena
Center for Soft Matter (JCSM), Friedrich
Schiller University Jena, Philosophenweg 7, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Tim Hoffmann
- Laboratory
of Organic Chemistry and Macromolecular Chemistry (IOMC), Friedrich Schiller University at Jena, Humboldtstraße 10, 07743 Jena, Germany
- Jena
Center for Soft Matter (JCSM), Friedrich
Schiller University Jena, Philosophenweg 7, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Florian Behrendt
- Laboratory
of Organic Chemistry and Macromolecular Chemistry (IOMC), Friedrich Schiller University at Jena, Humboldtstraße 10, 07743 Jena, Germany
- Jena
Center for Soft Matter (JCSM), Friedrich
Schiller University Jena, Philosophenweg 7, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Phil Liebing
- Institute
of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry (IAAC), Friedrich Schiller University at Jena, Humboldtstraße 8, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Christine Weber
- Laboratory
of Organic Chemistry and Macromolecular Chemistry (IOMC), Friedrich Schiller University at Jena, Humboldtstraße 10, 07743 Jena, Germany
- Jena
Center for Soft Matter (JCSM), Friedrich
Schiller University Jena, Philosophenweg 7, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Michael Gottschaldt
- Laboratory
of Organic Chemistry and Macromolecular Chemistry (IOMC), Friedrich Schiller University at Jena, Humboldtstraße 10, 07743 Jena, Germany
- Jena
Center for Soft Matter (JCSM), Friedrich
Schiller University Jena, Philosophenweg 7, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Ulrich S. Schubert
- Laboratory
of Organic Chemistry and Macromolecular Chemistry (IOMC), Friedrich Schiller University at Jena, Humboldtstraße 10, 07743 Jena, Germany
- Jena
Center for Soft Matter (JCSM), Friedrich
Schiller University Jena, Philosophenweg 7, 07743 Jena, Germany
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Fujiike AY, de Oliveira LCB, Ribeiro DL, Pereira ÉR, Okuyama NCM, Dos Santos AGP, de Syllos Cólus IM, Serpeloni JM. Effects of docetaxel on metastatic prostate (DU-145) carcinoma cells cultured as 2D monolayers and 3D multicellular tumor spheroids. JOURNAL OF TOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. PART A 2024; 87:227-244. [PMID: 38095149 DOI: 10.1080/15287394.2023.2293218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
Docetaxel (DTX) is one of the chemotherapeutic drugs indicated as a first-line treatment against metastatic prostate cancer (mPCa). This study aimed to compare the impact of DTX on mPCa (DU-145) tumor cells cultured as 2D monolayers and 3D multicellular tumor spheroids (MCTS) in vitro. The cells were treated with DTX (1-96 µM) at 24, 48, or 72 hr in cell viability assays (resazurin, phosphatase acid, and lactate dehydrogenase). Cell death was assessed with fluorescent markers and proliferation by clonogenic assay (2D) and morphology, volume, and integrity assay (3D). The cell invasion was determined using transwell (2D) and extracellular matrix (ECM) (3D). Results showed that DTX decreased cell viability in both culture models. In 2D, the IC50 (72 hr) values were 11.06 μM and 14.23 μM for resazurin and phosphatase assays, respectively. In MCTS, the IC50 values for the same assays were 114.9 μM and 163.7 μM, approximately 10-fold higher than in the 2D model. The % of viable cells decreased, while the apoptotic cell number was elevated compared to the control in 2D. In 3D spheroids, only DTX 24 μM induced apoptosis. DTX (≥24 μM at 216 hr) lowered the volume, and DTX 96 μM completely disintegrated the MCTS. DTX reduced the invasion of mPCa cells to matrigel (2D) and migration from MCTS to the ECM. Data demonstrated significant differences in drug response between 2D and 3D cell culture models using mPCa DU-145 tumor cells. MCTS resembles the early stages of solid tumors in vivo and needs to be considered in conjunction with 2D cultures when searching for new therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andressa Yuri Fujiike
- Department of General Biology, Center of Biological Sciences, State University of Londrina (UEL), Londrina, PR, Brazil
| | - Larissa Cristina Bastos de Oliveira
- Division of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Cancer Research Institute, and Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada
| | - Diego Luis Ribeiro
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo (ICB/USP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Érica Romão Pereira
- Department of General Biology, Center of Biological Sciences, State University of Londrina (UEL), Londrina, PR, Brazil
| | - Nádia Calvo Martins Okuyama
- Department of General Biology, Center of Biological Sciences, State University of Londrina (UEL), Londrina, PR, Brazil
| | | | - Ilce Mara de Syllos Cólus
- Department of General Biology, Center of Biological Sciences, State University of Londrina (UEL), Londrina, PR, Brazil
| | - Juliana Mara Serpeloni
- Department of General Biology, Center of Biological Sciences, State University of Londrina (UEL), Londrina, PR, Brazil
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Zhao Z, Chua HM, Lai HY, Ng KW. A facile method to fabricate versatile keratin cryogels for tissue engineering applications. Biomed Mater 2024; 19:025048. [PMID: 38364277 DOI: 10.1088/1748-605x/ad2a3f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
Human hair keratin (HHK) has been extensively explored as a biomaterial for soft tissue regeneration due to their excellent bioactivity and biocompatibility. The possibility to fabricate HHK into three-dimensional (3D) hydrogels with physical properties resembling soft tissues has been well demonstrated. However, conventional keratin hydrogels often exhibit a dense architecture that could hinder cell filtration. In the present study, HHK-based cryogels were fabricated using a freeze-thaw (FT) method, where oxidized dopamine (ODA) was employed to covalently crosslink thiol/amine rich-keratin molecules at sub-zero temperatures. The obtained HHK-ODA cryogels have micron-sized pores ranging between 100 and 200 μm and mechanical properties that can be tuned by varying the crosslinking density between ODA and HHK. Through optimization of the weight content of ODA and the number of FT cycles, the compressive strengths and stiffnesses of these cryogels achieved 15-fold increments from ∼1.5 kPa to ∼22 kPa and ∼300 Pa to ∼5000 Pa, respectively. The HHK-ODA cryogels competently supported human dermal fibroblast spreading and proliferation. Overall, this study exhibited a facile method to fabricate mechanically superior keratin-based cryogels with cell compatible microarchitecture, circumventing the need for complicated chemical modifications and the use of cytotoxic crosslinkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhitong Zhao
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Huei Min Chua
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Hui Ying Lai
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Kee Woei Ng
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
- Nanyang Environment and Water Research Institute (NEWRI), Singapore, Singapore
- Skin Research Institute of Singapore (SRIS), Singapore, Singapore
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4
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Shen X, Pan D, Gong Q, Gu Z, Luo K. Enhancing drug penetration in solid tumors via nanomedicine: Evaluation models, strategies and perspectives. Bioact Mater 2024; 32:445-472. [PMID: 37965242 PMCID: PMC10641097 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2023.10.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Revised: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Effective tumor treatment depends on optimizing drug penetration and accumulation in tumor tissue while minimizing systemic toxicity. Nanomedicine has emerged as a key solution that addresses the rapid clearance of free drugs, but achieving deep drug penetration into solid tumors remains elusive. This review discusses various strategies to enhance drug penetration, including manipulation of the tumor microenvironment, exploitation of both external and internal stimuli, pioneering nanocarrier surface engineering, and development of innovative tactics for active tumor penetration. One outstanding strategy is organelle-affinitive transfer, which exploits the unique properties of specific tumor cell organelles and heralds a potentially transformative approach to active transcellular transfer for deep tumor penetration. Rigorous models are essential to evaluate the efficacy of these strategies. The patient-derived xenograft (PDX) model is gaining traction as a bridge between laboratory discovery and clinical application. However, the journey from bench to bedside for nanomedicines is fraught with challenges. Future efforts should prioritize deepening our understanding of nanoparticle-tumor interactions, re-evaluating the EPR effect, and exploring novel nanoparticle transport mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoding Shen
- Department of Radiology, Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Dayi Pan
- Department of Radiology, Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Qiyong Gong
- Department of Radiology, Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
- Functional and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, and Research Unit of Psychoradiology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Chengdu, 610041, China
- Department of Radiology, West China Xiamen Hospital of Sichuan University, Xiamen, 361021, China
| | - Zhongwei Gu
- Department of Radiology, Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Kui Luo
- Department of Radiology, Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
- Functional and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, and Research Unit of Psychoradiology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Chengdu, 610041, China
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Shakiba D, Genin GM, Zustiak SP. Mechanobiology of cancer cell responsiveness to chemotherapy and immunotherapy: Mechanistic insights and biomaterial platforms. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2023; 196:114771. [PMID: 36889646 PMCID: PMC10133187 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2023.114771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Revised: 12/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023]
Abstract
Mechanical forces are central to how cancer treatments such as chemotherapeutics and immunotherapies interact with cells and tissues. At the simplest level, electrostatic forces underlie the binding events that are critical to therapeutic function. However, a growing body of literature points to mechanical factors that also affect whether a drug or an immune cell can reach a target, and to interactions between a cell and its environment affecting therapeutic efficacy. These factors affect cell processes ranging from cytoskeletal and extracellular matrix remodeling to transduction of signals by the nucleus to metastasis of cells. This review presents and critiques the state of the art of our understanding of how mechanobiology impacts drug and immunotherapy resistance and responsiveness, and of the in vitro systems that have been of value in the discovery of these effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Delaram Shakiba
- NSF Science and Technology Center for Engineering Mechanobiology, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, USA; Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Guy M Genin
- NSF Science and Technology Center for Engineering Mechanobiology, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, USA; Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, USA.
| | - Silviya P Zustiak
- NSF Science and Technology Center for Engineering Mechanobiology, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Science and Engineering, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO, USA.
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Semi-Synthetic Click-Gelatin Hydrogels as Tunable Platforms for 3D Cancer Cell Culture. Gels 2022; 8:gels8120821. [PMID: 36547345 PMCID: PMC9778549 DOI: 10.3390/gels8120821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Revised: 11/25/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Basement membrane extracts (BME) derived from Engelbreth-Holm-Swarm (EHS) mouse sarcomas such as Matrigel® remain the gold standard extracellular matrix (ECM) for three-dimensional (3D) cell culture in cancer research. Yet, BMEs suffer from substantial batch-to-batch variation, ill-defined composition, and lack the ability for physichochemical manipulation. Here, we developed a novel 3D cell culture system based on thiolated gelatin (Gel-SH), an inexpensive and highly controlled raw material capable of forming hydrogels with a high level of biophysical control and cell-instructive bioactivity. We demonstrate the successful thiolation of gelatin raw materials to enable rapid covalent crosslinking upon mixing with a synthetic poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-based crosslinker. The mechanical properties of the resulting gelatin-based hydrogels were readily tuned by varying precursor material concentrations, with Young's moduli ranging from ~2.5 to 5.8 kPa. All hydrogels of varying stiffnesses supported the viability and proliferation of MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 breast cancer cell lines for 14 and 21 days of cell culture, respectively. Additionally, the gelatin-based hydrogels supported the growth, viability, and osteogenic differentiation of patient-derived preosteoblasts over 28 days of culture. Collectively, our data demonstrate that gelatin-based biomaterials provide an inexpensive and tunable 3D cell culture platform that may overcome the limitations of traditional BMEs.
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Wong CW, Han HW, Hsu SH. Changes of cell membrane fluidity for mesenchymal stem cell spheroids on biomaterial surfaces. World J Stem Cells 2022; 14:616-632. [PMID: 36157913 PMCID: PMC9453270 DOI: 10.4252/wjsc.v14.i8.616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2022] [Revised: 05/02/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The therapeutic potential of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in the form of three-dimensional spheroids has been extensively demonstrated. The underlying mechanisms for the altered cellular behavior of spheroids have also been investigated. Cell membrane fluidity is a critically important physical property for the regulation of cell behavior, but it has not been studied for the spheroid-forming cells to date.
AIM To explore the association between cell membrane fluidity and the morphological changes of MSC spheroids on the surface of biomaterials to elucidate the role of membrane fluidity during the spheroid-forming process of MSCs.
METHODS We generated three-dimensional (3D) MSC spheroids on the surface of various culture substrates including chitosan (CS), CS-hyaluronan (CS-HA), and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) substrates. The cell membrane fluidity and cell morphological change were examined by a time-lapse recording system as well as a high-resolution 3D cellular image explorer. MSCs and normal/cancer cells were pre-stained with fluorescent dyes and co-cultured on the biomaterials to investigate the exchange of cell membrane during the formation of heterogeneous cellular spheroids.
RESULTS We discovered that vesicle-like bubbles randomly appeared on the outer layer of MSC spheroids cultured on different biomaterial surfaces. The average diameter of the vesicle-like bubbles of MSC spheroids on CS-HA at 37 °C was approximately 10 μm, smaller than that on PVA substrates (approximately 27 μm). Based on time-lapse images, these unique bubbles originated from the dynamic movement of the cell membrane during spheroid formation, which indicated an increment of membrane fluidity for MSCs cultured on these substrates. Moreover, the membrane interaction in two different types of cells with similar membrane fluidity may further induce a higher level of membrane translocation during the formation of heterogeneous spheroids.
CONCLUSION Changes in cell membrane fluidity may be a novel path to elucidate the complicated physiological alterations in 3D spheroid-forming cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chui-Wei Wong
- National Taiwan University, Institute of Polymer Science and Engineering, Taipei 10617, Taiwan
| | - Hao-Wei Han
- National Taiwan University, Institute of Polymer Science and Engineering, Taipei 10617, Taiwan
| | - Shan-hui Hsu
- National Taiwan University, Institute of Polymer Science and Engineering, Taipei 10617, Taiwan
- National Health Research Institutes, Institute of Cellular and System Medicine, Miaoli 350, Taiwan
- National Taiwan University, Research and Development Center for Medical Devices, Taipei 10617, Taiwan
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8
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Takehana S, Yang W, Tabata Y. Potential Method of Autophagy Imaging with Cationized Gelatin Nanospheres Incorporating Molecular Beacon. ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS 2022; 5:2965-2975. [PMID: 35609115 DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.2c00287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The objective of this research is to develop an imaging method with cationized gelatin nanospheres incorporating molecular beacon (cGNSMB) to visualize an autophagy activity in living cells. Cationized gelatin nanospheres (cGNS) were prepared by the conventional coacervation method, and then molecular beacon (MB) was incorporated into them. The cGNSMB prepared were internalized into cells at a high efficiency. In this study, a starvation medium of serum and amino acids-free was used to induce autophagy. The autophagy activity was confirmed by an immunofluorescence staining for microtubule-associated proteins light chain 3B (LC3B) of an autophagy specific protein. With the autophagy induction time, the number of LC3 fluorescent dots increased, which indicated an increased autophagy activity. As the autophagy-related genes, sequestosome 1 (SQSTM1) and cathepsin F (CTSF), which up-regulate after autophagy induction, were chosen as the targets of cGNSMB. The fluorescence intensity of cGNSMB targeting to SQSTM1 and CTSF increased with the starvation treatment time, which well corresponded with the gene expression results. When applied to cells in different autophagy conditions, the cGNSMB visualized the autophagy activity corresponding with the autophagy condition of cells. From the results obtained, it was concluded that the cGNSMB provide a promising method to visualize the autophagy of cells. The advantage of cGNSMB visualization is to obtain the temporal and spatial information without destroying sample cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sho Takehana
- Laboratory of Biomaterials, Institute for Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kawahara-cho Shogoin, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
| | - Wenxuan Yang
- Laboratory of Biomaterials, Institute for Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kawahara-cho Shogoin, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
| | - Yasuhiko Tabata
- Laboratory of Biomaterials, Institute for Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kawahara-cho Shogoin, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
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Dong W, Ma W, Zhao S, Zhou X, Wang Y, Liu Z, Sun D, Zhang M, Jiang Z. Multifunctional 3D sponge-like macroporous cryogel-modified long carbon fiber reinforced polyetheretherketone implant with enhanced vascularization and osseointegration. J Mater Chem B 2022; 10:5473-5486. [DOI: 10.1039/d2tb00725h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Long carbon fiber reinforced polyetheretherketone (LCFRPEEK), a newly developed high-performance composite material, is being investigated as a possible orthopedic implant. However, its inability of angiogenesis and osseointegration after implantation makes...
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10
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Sakr MA, Sakthivel K, Hossain T, Shin SR, Siddiqua S, Kim J, Kim K. Recent trends in gelatin methacryloyl nanocomposite hydrogels for tissue engineering. J Biomed Mater Res A 2021; 110:708-724. [PMID: 34558808 DOI: 10.1002/jbm.a.37310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2021] [Revised: 07/21/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA), a photocrosslinkable gelatin-based hydrogel, has been immensely used for diverse applications in tissue engineering and drug delivery. Apart from its excellent functionality and versatile mechanical properties, it is also suitable for a wide range of fabrication methodologies to generate tissue constructs of desired shapes and sizes. Despite its exceptional characteristics, it is predominantly limited by its weak mechanical strength, as some tissue types naturally possess high mechanical stiffness. The use of high GelMA concentrations yields high mechanical strength, but not without the compromise in its porosity, degradability, and three-dimensional (3D) cell attachment. Recently, GelMA has been blended with various natural and synthetic biomaterials to reinforce its physical properties to match with the tissue to be engineered. Among these, nanomaterials have been extensively used to form a composite with GelMA, as they increase its biological and physicochemical properties without affecting the unique characteristics of GelMA and also introduce electrical and magnetic properties. This review article presents the recent advances in the formation of hybrid GelMA nanocomposites using a variety of nanomaterials (carbon, metal, polymer, and mineral-based). We give an overview of each nanomaterial's characteristics followed by a discussion of the enhancement in GelMA's physical properties after its incorporation. Finally, we also highlight the use of each GelMA nanocomposite for different applications, such as cardiac, bone, and neural regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahmoud A Sakr
- School of Engineering, The University of British Columbia, Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Kabilan Sakthivel
- School of Engineering, The University of British Columbia, Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Towsif Hossain
- School of Engineering, The University of British Columbia, Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Su Ryon Shin
- Division of Engineering in Medicine, Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Brigham Women's Hospital, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Sumi Siddiqua
- School of Engineering, The University of British Columbia, Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Jaehwan Kim
- Advanced Geo-materials Research Department, Korea Institute of Geosciece and Mineral Resources, Pohang-si, South Korea
| | - Keekyoung Kim
- Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Schulich School of Engineering, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.,Biomedical Engineering Graduate Program, Schulich School of Engineering, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
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11
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Savina IN, Zoughaib M, Yergeshov AA. Design and Assessment of Biodegradable Macroporous Cryogels as Advanced Tissue Engineering and Drug Carrying Materials. Gels 2021; 7:79. [PMID: 34203439 PMCID: PMC8293244 DOI: 10.3390/gels7030079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Revised: 06/17/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cryogels obtained by the cryotropic gelation process are macroporous hydrogels with a well-developed system of interconnected pores and shape memory. There have been significant recent advancements in our understanding of the cryotropic gelation process, and in the relationship between components, their structure and the application of the cryogels obtained. As cryogels are one of the most promising hydrogel-based biomaterials, and this field has been advancing rapidly, this review focuses on the design of biodegradable cryogels as advanced biomaterials for drug delivery and tissue engineering. The selection of a biodegradable polymer is key to the development of modern biomaterials that mimic the biological environment and the properties of artificial tissue, and are at the same time capable of being safely degraded/metabolized without any side effects. The range of biodegradable polymers utilized for cryogel formation is overviewed, including biopolymers, synthetic polymers, polymer blends, and composites. The paper discusses a cryotropic gelation method as a tool for synthesis of hydrogel materials with large, interconnected pores and mechanical, physical, chemical and biological properties, adapted for targeted biomedical applications. The effect of the composition, cross-linker, freezing conditions, and the nature of the polymer on the morphology, mechanical properties and biodegradation of cryogels is discussed. The biodegradation of cryogels and its dependence on their production and composition is overviewed. Selected representative biomedical applications demonstrate how cryogel-based materials have been used in drug delivery, tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, cancer research, and sensing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irina N. Savina
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Brighton, Huxley Building, Lewes Road, Brighton BN2 4GJ, UK
| | - Mohamed Zoughaib
- Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University, 18 Kremlyovskaya St., 420008 Kazan, Russia; (M.Z.); (A.A.Y.)
| | - Abdulla A. Yergeshov
- Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University, 18 Kremlyovskaya St., 420008 Kazan, Russia; (M.Z.); (A.A.Y.)
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12
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Lin ZT, Gu J, Wang H, Wu A, Sun J, Chen S, Li Y, Kong Y, Wu MX, Wu T. Thermosensitive and Conductive Hybrid Polymer for Real-Time Monitoring of Spheroid Growth and Drug Responses. ACS Sens 2021; 6:2147-2157. [PMID: 34014658 DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.0c02266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Three-dimensional (3D) cell culture based on polymer scaffold provides a promising tool to mimic a physiological microenvironment for drug testing; however, the next-generation cell activity monitoring technology for 3D cell culture is still challenging. Conventionally, drug efficacy evaluation and cell growth heavily rely on cell staining assays, using optical devices or flow cytometry. Here, we report a dual-function polymer scaffold (DFPS) composed of thermosensitive, silver flake- and gold nanoparticle-decorated polymers, enabling conductance change upon cell proliferation or death for in situ cell activity monitoring and drug screening. The cell activity can be quantitatively monitored via measuring the conductance change induced by polymeric network swelling or shrinkage. This novel dual-function system (1) provides a 3D microenvironment to enable the formation and growth of tumor spheroid in vitro and streamlines the harvesting of tumor spheroids through the thermosensitive scaffold and (2) offers a simple and direct quantitative method to monitor 3D cell culture in situ for drug responses. As a proof of concept, we demonstrated that a breast cancer stem cell line MDA-MB-436 was able to form cell spheroids in the scaffold, and the conductance change of the sensor exhibited a linear relationship with cell concentration. To examine its potential in drug screening, cancer spheroids in the cell sensor were treated with paclitaxel (PTX) and docetaxel (DTX), and predicted quantitative evaluation of the cytotoxic effect of drugs was established. Our results indicated that this cell sensing system may hold promising potential in expanding into an array device for high-throughput drug screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zuan-Tao Lin
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, Texas 77204, United States
- Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Department of Dermatology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, United States
| | - Jianhua Gu
- Electron Microscopy Core, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
| | - Huie Wang
- Electron Microscopy Core, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
| | - Albon Wu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, Texas 77204, United States
| | - Jingying Sun
- Department of Physics and TcSUH, University of Houston, Houston, Texas 77204, United States
| | - Shuo Chen
- Department of Physics and TcSUH, University of Houston, Houston, Texas 77204, United States
| | - Yaxi Li
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, Texas 77204, United States
| | - Yifei Kong
- Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Department of Dermatology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, United States
| | - Mei X. Wu
- Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Department of Dermatology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, United States
| | - Tianfu Wu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, Texas 77204, United States
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13
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Liu X, Lin H, Song J, Zhang T, Wang X, Huang X, Zheng C. A Novel SimpleDrop Chip for 3D Spheroid Formation and Anti-Cancer Drug Assay. MICROMACHINES 2021; 12:681. [PMID: 34200752 PMCID: PMC8230402 DOI: 10.3390/mi12060681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2021] [Revised: 06/03/2021] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Cell culture is important for the rapid screening of anti-cancer drug candidates, attracting intense interest. Traditional 2D cell culture has been widely utilized in cancer biological research. However, 3D cellular spheroids are able to recapitulate the in vivo microenvironment of tissues or tumors. Thus far, several 3D cell culture methods have been developed, for instance, the hanging drop method, spinner flasks and micropatterned plates. Nevertheless, these methods have been reported to have some disadvantages, for example, medium replacement is inconvenient or causes cellular damage. Here, we report on an easy-to-operate and useful micro-hole culture chip (SimpleDrop) for 3D cellular spheroid formation and culture and drug analysis, which has advantages over the traditional method in terms of its ease of operation, lack of shear force and environmentally friendliness. On this chip, we observed the formation of a 3D spheroid clearly. Three drugs (paclitaxel, cisplatin and methotrexate) were tested by both cell viability assay and drug-induced apoptotic assay. The results show that the three drugs present a similar conclusion: cell viability decreased over time and concentration. Moreover, the apoptotic experiment showed a similar trend to the live/dead cell assay, in that the fraction of the apoptotic and necrotic cells correlated with the concentration and time. All these results prove that our SimpleDrop method is a useful and easy method for the formation of 3D cellular spheroids, which shows its potential for both cell-cell interaction research, tissue engineering and anticancer drug screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoli Liu
- Department of Hematology, The Second Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250033, China;
| | - Huichao Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Biobased Material and Green Papermaking, Department of Bioengineering, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan 250300, China; (H.L.); (J.S.); (T.Z.)
| | - Jiaao Song
- State Key Laboratory of Biobased Material and Green Papermaking, Department of Bioengineering, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan 250300, China; (H.L.); (J.S.); (T.Z.)
| | - Taiyi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Biobased Material and Green Papermaking, Department of Bioengineering, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan 250300, China; (H.L.); (J.S.); (T.Z.)
| | - Xiaoying Wang
- Department of Pathology, The Second Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250033, China;
| | - Xiaowen Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Biobased Material and Green Papermaking, Department of Bioengineering, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan 250300, China; (H.L.); (J.S.); (T.Z.)
| | - Chengyun Zheng
- Department of Hematology, The Second Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250033, China;
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14
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Virdi JK, Pethe P. Biomaterials Regulate Mechanosensors YAP/TAZ in Stem Cell Growth and Differentiation. Tissue Eng Regen Med 2021; 18:199-215. [PMID: 33230800 PMCID: PMC8012461 DOI: 10.1007/s13770-020-00301-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2020] [Revised: 08/15/2020] [Accepted: 09/12/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Tissue-resident stem cells are surrounded by a microenvironment known as 'stem cell niche' which is specific for each stem cell type. This niche comprises of cell-intrinsic and -extrinsic factors like biochemical and biophysical signals, which regulate stem cell characteristics and differentiation. Biochemical signals have been thoroughly studied however, the effect of biophysical signals on stem cell regulation is yet to be completely understood. Biomaterials have aided in addressing this issue since they can provide a defined and tuneable microenvironment resembling in vivo conditions. We review various biomaterials used in many studies which have shown a connection between biomaterial-generated mechanical signals and alteration in stem cell behaviour. Researchers probed to understand the mechanism of mechanotransduction and reported that the signals from the extracellular matrix regulate a transcription factor yes-associated protein (YAP)/transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ), which is a downstream-regulator of the Hippo pathway and it transduces the mechanical signals inside the nucleus. We highlight the role of the YAP/TAZ as mechanotransducers in stem cell self-renewal and differentiation in response to substrate stiffness, also the possibility of mechanobiology as the emerging field of regenerative medicines and three-dimensional tissue printing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmeet Kaur Virdi
- Department of Biological Science, Sunandan Divatia School of Science, SVKM's NMIMS (Deemed to-be) University, Mumbai, India
| | - Prasad Pethe
- Symbiosis Centre for Stem Cell Research (SCSCR), Symbiosis International University, Lavale, Mulshi, Pune, 412115, India.
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15
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Shiekh PA, Andrabi SM, Singh A, Majumder S, Kumar A. Designing cryogels through cryostructuring of polymeric matrices for biomedical applications. Eur Polym J 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2020.110234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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16
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Masullo U, Cavallo A, Greco MR, Reshkin SJ, Mastrodonato M, Gallo N, Salvatore L, Verri T, Sannino A, Cardone RA, Madaghiele M. Semi-interpenetrating polymer network cryogels based on poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate and collagen as potential off-the-shelf platforms for cancer cell research. J Biomed Mater Res B Appl Biomater 2021; 109:1313-1326. [PMID: 33427396 DOI: 10.1002/jbm.b.34792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2020] [Revised: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 12/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
In the present work, we investigated the potential of novel semi-interpenetrating polymer network (semi-IPN) cryogels, obtained through ultraviolet exposure of aqueous mixtures of poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate and type I collagen, as tunable off-the-shelf platforms for 3D cancer cell research. We synthesized semi-IPN cryogels with variable collagen amounts (0.1% and 1% w/v) and assessed the effect of collagen on key cryogel properties for cell culture, for example, porosity, degradation rate and mechanical stiffness. Then, we investigated the ability of the cryogels to sustain the long-term growth of two pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cell populations, the parenchymal Panc1 cells and their derived cancer stem cells. Results revealed that both cell lines efficiently infiltrated, attached and expanded in the cryogels over a period of 14 days. However, only when grown in the cryogels with the highest collagen concentration, both cell lines reproduced their characteristic growth pattern previously observed in collagen-enriched organotypic cultures, biomimetic of the highly fibrotic PDAC stroma. Cellular preembedding in Matrigel, that is, the classical approach to develop/grow organoids, interfered with an efficient intra-scaffold migration and growth. Although preliminary, these findings highlight the potential of the proposed cryogels as reproducible and tunable cancer cell research platforms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ugo Masullo
- Department of Engineering for Innovation, University of Salento, Lecce, Italy
| | - Anna Cavallo
- Department of Engineering for Innovation, University of Salento, Lecce, Italy
| | - Maria Raffaella Greco
- Department of Bioscience, Biotechnologies and Biopharmaceutics, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Stephan J Reshkin
- Department of Bioscience, Biotechnologies and Biopharmaceutics, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | | | - Nunzia Gallo
- Department of Engineering for Innovation, University of Salento, Lecce, Italy
| | - Luca Salvatore
- Department of Engineering for Innovation, University of Salento, Lecce, Italy
| | - Tiziano Verri
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of Salento, Lecce, Italy
| | - Alessandro Sannino
- Department of Engineering for Innovation, University of Salento, Lecce, Italy
| | - Rosa Angela Cardone
- Department of Bioscience, Biotechnologies and Biopharmaceutics, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Marta Madaghiele
- Department of Engineering for Innovation, University of Salento, Lecce, Italy
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17
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Jonckheere S, Adams J, De Groote D, Campbell K, Berx G, Goossens S. Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) as a Therapeutic Target. Cells Tissues Organs 2021; 211:157-182. [PMID: 33401271 DOI: 10.1159/000512218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2020] [Accepted: 10/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Metastasis is the spread of cancer cells from the primary tumour to distant sites and organs throughout the body. It is the primary cause of cancer morbidity and mortality, and is estimated to account for 90% of cancer-related deaths. During the initial steps of the metastatic cascade, epithelial cancer cells undergo an epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and as a result become migratory and invasive mesenchymal-like cells while acquiring cancer stem cell properties and therapy resistance. As EMT is involved in such a broad range of processes associated with malignant transformation, it has become an increasingly interesting target for the development of novel therapeutic strategies. Anti-EMT therapeutic strategies could potentially not only prevent the invasion and dissemination of cancer cells, and as such prevent the formation of metastatic lesions, but also attenuate cancer stemness and increase the effectiveness of more classical chemotherapeutics. In this review, we give an overview about the pros and cons of therapies targeting EMT and discuss some already existing candidate drug targets and high-throughput screening tools to identify novel anti-EMT compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sven Jonckheere
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.,Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Jamie Adams
- Department of Biomedical Science, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Dominic De Groote
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Kyra Campbell
- Department of Biomedical Science, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Geert Berx
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.,Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Steven Goossens
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium, .,Department of Diagnostic Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium,
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18
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Bhattacharya S, Calar K, de la Puente P. Mimicking tumor hypoxia and tumor-immune interactions employing three-dimensional in vitro models. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2020; 39:75. [PMID: 32357910 PMCID: PMC7195738 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-020-01583-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2020] [Accepted: 04/22/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The heterogeneous tumor microenvironment (TME) is highly complex and not entirely understood. These complex configurations lead to the generation of oxygen-deprived conditions within the tumor niche, which modulate several intrinsic TME elements to promote immunosuppressive outcomes. Decoding these communications is necessary for designing effective therapeutic strategies that can effectively reduce tumor-associated chemotherapy resistance by employing the inherent potential of the immune system.While classic two-dimensional in vitro research models reveal critical hypoxia-driven biochemical cues, three-dimensional (3D) cell culture models more accurately replicate the TME-immune manifestations. In this study, we review various 3D cell culture models currently being utilized to foster an oxygen-deprived TME, those that assess the dynamics associated with TME-immune cell penetrability within the tumor-like spatial structure, and discuss state of the art 3D systems that attempt recreating hypoxia-driven TME-immune outcomes. We also highlight the importance of integrating various hallmarks, which collectively might influence the functionality of these 3D models.This review strives to supplement perspectives to the quickly-evolving discipline that endeavors to mimic tumor hypoxia and tumor-immune interactions using 3D in vitro models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Somshuvra Bhattacharya
- Cancer Biology and Immunotherapies Group, Sanford Research, 2301 E 60th Street N, Sioux Falls, SD, 57104, USA
| | - Kristin Calar
- Cancer Biology and Immunotherapies Group, Sanford Research, 2301 E 60th Street N, Sioux Falls, SD, 57104, USA
| | - Pilar de la Puente
- Cancer Biology and Immunotherapies Group, Sanford Research, 2301 E 60th Street N, Sioux Falls, SD, 57104, USA.
- Department of Surgery, University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine, Sioux Falls, SD, USA.
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD, USA.
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