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Sheth M, Sharma M, Lehn M, Reza H, Takebe T, Takiar V, Wise-Draper T, Esfandiari L. Three-dimensional matrix stiffness modulates mechanosensitive and phenotypic alterations in oral squamous cell carcinoma spheroids. APL Bioeng 2024; 8:036106. [PMID: 39092008 PMCID: PMC11293878 DOI: 10.1063/5.0210134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 07/22/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Extracellular biophysical cues such as matrix stiffness are key stimuli tuning cell fate and affecting tumor progression in vivo. However, it remains unclear how cancer spheroids in a 3D microenvironment perceive matrix mechanical stiffness stimuli and translate them into intracellular signals driving progression. Mechanosensitive Piezo1 and TRPV4 ion channels, upregulated in many malignancies, are major transducers of such physical stimuli into biochemical responses. Most mechanotransduction studies probing the reception of changing stiffness cues by cells are, however, still limited to 2D culture systems or cell-extracellular matrix models, which lack the major cell-cell interactions prevalent in 3D cancer tumors. Here, we engineered a 3D spheroid culture environment with varying mechanobiological properties to study the effect of static matrix stiffness stimuli on mechanosensitive and malignant phenotypes in oral squamous cell carcinoma spheroids. We find that spheroid growth is enhanced when cultured in stiff extracellular matrix. We show that the protein expression of mechanoreceptor Piezo1 and stemness marker CD44 is upregulated in stiff matrix. We also report the upregulation of a selection of genes with associations to mechanoreception, ion channel transport, extracellular matrix organization, and tumorigenic phenotypes in stiff matrix spheroids. Together, our results indicate that cancer cells in 3D spheroids utilize mechanosensitive ion channels Piezo1 and TRPV4 as means to sense changes in static extracellular matrix stiffness, and that stiffness drives pro-tumorigenic phenotypes in oral squamous cell carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maulee Sheth
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio 45221, USA
| | - Manju Sharma
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio 45221, USA
| | - Maria Lehn
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio 45219, USA
| | - HasanAl Reza
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition and Division of Developmental Biology, and Center for Stem Cell and Organoid Medicine (CuSTOM), Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229, USA
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2
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Aydin H, Ozcelikkale A, Acar A. Exploiting Matrix Stiffness to Overcome Drug Resistance. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2024; 10:4682-4700. [PMID: 38967485 PMCID: PMC11322920 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.4c00445] [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: 03/06/2024] [Revised: 06/12/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/06/2024]
Abstract
Drug resistance is arguably one of the biggest challenges facing cancer research today. Understanding the underlying mechanisms of drug resistance in tumor progression and metastasis are essential in developing better treatment modalities. Given the matrix stiffness affecting the mechanotransduction capabilities of cancer cells, characterization of the related signal transduction pathways can provide a better understanding for developing novel therapeutic strategies. In this review, we aimed to summarize the recent advancements in tumor matrix biology in parallel to therapeutic approaches targeting matrix stiffness and its consequences in cellular processes in tumor progression and metastasis. The cellular processes governed by signal transduction pathways and their aberrant activation may result in activating the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, cancer stemness, and autophagy, which can be attributed to drug resistance. Developing therapeutic strategies to target these cellular processes in cancer biology will offer novel therapeutic approaches to tailor better personalized treatment modalities for clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hakan
Berk Aydin
- Department
of Biological Sciences, Middle East Technical
University, 06800, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Altug Ozcelikkale
- Department
of Mechanical Engineering, Middle East Technical
University, 06800, Ankara, Turkey
- Graduate
Program of Biomedical Engineering, Middle
East Technical University, 06800, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Ahmet Acar
- Department
of Biological Sciences, Middle East Technical
University, 06800, Ankara, Turkey
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3
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Mondal J, Chakraborty K, Bunggulawa EJ, An JM, Revuri V, Nurunnabi M, Lee YK. Recent advancements of hydrogels in immunotherapy: Breast cancer treatment. J Control Release 2024; 372:1-30. [PMID: 38849092 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2024.06.003] [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: 02/29/2024] [Revised: 05/21/2024] [Accepted: 06/01/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024]
Abstract
Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer among women and the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in this population. Recent advances in Immunotherapy, or combined immunotherapy, offering a more targeted and less toxic approach, expand the survival rate of patients more than conventional treatment. Notably, hydrogels, a versatile platform provided promising avenues to combat breast cancer in preclinical studies and extended to clinical practices. With advantages such as the alternation of tumor microenvironment, immunomodulation, targeted delivery of therapeutic agents, and their sustained release at specific sites of interest, hydrogels can potentially be used for the treatment of breast cancer. This review highlights the advantages, mechanisms of action, stimuli-responsiveness properties, and recent advancements of hydrogels for treating breast cancer immunotherapy. Moreover, post-treatment and its clinical translations are discussed in this review. The integration of hydrogels in immunotherapy strategies may pave the way for more effective, personalized, and patient-friendly approaches to combat breast cancer, ultimately contributing to a brighter future for breast cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jagannath Mondal
- 4D Convergence Technology Institute, Korea National University of Transportation, Jeungpyeong 27909, Republic of Korea; Department of Green Bioengineering, Korea National University of Transportation, Chungju 27470, Republic of Korea; Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Kushal Chakraborty
- Department of IT and Energy Convergence (BK21 FOUR), Korea National University of Transportation, Chungju 27469, Republic of Korea
| | - Edwin J Bunggulawa
- Department of Green Bioengineering, Korea National University of Transportation, Chungju 27470, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeong Man An
- Department of Bioengineering, College of Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea
| | - Vishnu Revuri
- Department of Green Bioengineering, Korea National University of Transportation, Chungju 27470, Republic of Korea
| | - Md Nurunnabi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX 79902, United States; Biomedical Engineering Program, College of Engineering, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX 79968, United States.
| | - Yong-Kyu Lee
- 4D Convergence Technology Institute, Korea National University of Transportation, Jeungpyeong 27909, Republic of Korea; Department of Green Bioengineering, Korea National University of Transportation, Chungju 27470, Republic of Korea; Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering, Korea National University of Transportation, Chungju 27470, Republic of Korea.
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4
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Gallegos-Martínez S, Choy-Buentello D, Pérez-Álvarez KA, Lara-Mayorga IM, Aceves-Colin AE, Zhang YS, Trujillo-de Santiago G, Álvarez MM. A 3D-printed tumor-on-chip: user-friendly platform for the culture of breast cancer spheroids and the evaluation of anti-cancer drugs. Biofabrication 2024; 16:045010. [PMID: 38866003 DOI: 10.1088/1758-5090/ad5765] [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: 11/04/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024]
Abstract
Tumor-on-chips (ToCs) are useful platforms for studying the physiology of tumors and evaluating the efficacy and toxicity of anti-cancer drugs. However, the design and fabrication of a ToC system is not a trivial venture. We introduce a user-friendly, flexible, 3D-printed microfluidic device that can be used to culture cancer cells or cancer-derived spheroids embedded in hydrogels under well-controlled environments. The system consists of two lateral flow compartments (left and right sides), each with two inlets and two outlets to deliver cell culture media as continuous liquid streams. The central compartment was designed to host a hydrogel in which cells and microtissues can be confined and cultured. We performed tracer experiments with colored inks and 40 kDa fluorescein isothiocyanate dextran to characterize the transport/mixing performances of the system. We also cultured homotypic (MCF7) and heterotypic (MCF7-BJ) spheroids embedded in gelatin methacryloyl hydrogels to illustrate the use of this microfluidic device in sustaining long-term micro-tissue culture experiments. We further demonstrated the use of this platform in anticancer drug testing by continuous perfusion of doxorubicin, a commonly used anti-cancer drug for breast cancer. In these experiments, we evaluated drug transport, viability, glucose consumption, cell death (apoptosis), and cytotoxicity. In summary, we introduce a robust and friendly ToC system capable of recapitulating relevant aspects of the tumor microenvironment for the study of cancer physiology, anti-cancer drug transport, efficacy, and safety. We anticipate that this flexible 3D-printed microfluidic device may facilitate cancer research and the development and screening of strategies for personalized medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salvador Gallegos-Martínez
- Centro de Biotecnología-FEMSA, Tecnológico de Monterrey, Campus Monterrey, CP 64849 Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico
- Departamento de Mecatrónica e Ingeniería Eléctrica, Escuela de Ingeniería y Ciencias, Tecnológico de Monterrey, Monterrey, Nuevo León, CP 64849, Mexico
- Division of Engineering in Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA 02139, United States of America
| | - David Choy-Buentello
- Centro de Biotecnología-FEMSA, Tecnológico de Monterrey, Campus Monterrey, CP 64849 Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico
| | - Kristen Aideé Pérez-Álvarez
- Centro de Biotecnología-FEMSA, Tecnológico de Monterrey, Campus Monterrey, CP 64849 Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico
| | | | | | - Yu Shrike Zhang
- Division of Engineering in Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA 02139, United States of America
| | - Grissel Trujillo-de Santiago
- Centro de Biotecnología-FEMSA, Tecnológico de Monterrey, Campus Monterrey, CP 64849 Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico
- Departamento de Mecatrónica e Ingeniería Eléctrica, Escuela de Ingeniería y Ciencias, Tecnológico de Monterrey, Monterrey, Nuevo León, CP 64849, Mexico
| | - Mario Moisés Álvarez
- Centro de Biotecnología-FEMSA, Tecnológico de Monterrey, Campus Monterrey, CP 64849 Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico
- Departamento de Mecatrónica e Ingeniería Eléctrica, Escuela de Ingeniería y Ciencias, Tecnológico de Monterrey, Monterrey, Nuevo León, CP 64849, Mexico
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5
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Xiao C, Xie N, Shu Q, Liang X, Wang Z, Wu J, Shi N, Huang X, Wei ZC, Gao X, Liu H, Wu K, Xu J, Wang JH, Liu N, Xu F. Synergistic Effects of Matrix Biophysical Properties on Gastric Cancer Cell Behavior via Integrin-Mediated Cell-ECM Interactions. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024:e2309907. [PMID: 38712486 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202309907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
The biophysical properties of the extracellular matrix (ECM) play a pivotal role in modulating cancer progression via cell-ECM interactions. However, the biophysical properties specific to gastric cancer (GC) remain largely unexplored. Pertinently, GC ECM shows significantly heterogeneous metamorphoses, such as matrix stiffening and intricate restructuring. By combining collagen I and alginate, this study designs an in vitro biomimetic hydrogel platform to independently modulate matrix stiffness and structure across a physiological stiffness spectrum while preserving consistent collagen concentration and fiber topography. With this platform, this study assesses the impacts of matrix biophysical properties on cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and other pivotal dynamics of AGS. The findings spotlight a compelling interplay between matrix stiffness and structure, influencing both cellular responses and ECM remodeling. Furthermore, this investigation into the integrin/actin-collagen interplay reinforces the central role of integrins in mediating cell-ECM interactions, reciprocally sculpting cell conduct, and ECM adaptation. Collectively, this study reveals a previously unidentified role of ECM biophysical properties in GC malignant potential and provides insight into the bidirectional mechanical cell-ECM interactions, which may facilitate the development of novel therapeutic horizons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cailan Xiao
- Department of Gastroenterology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710049, P. R. China
- The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710049, P. R. China
- Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Center (BEBC), Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710049, P. R. China
| | - Ning Xie
- Department of Gastroenterology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710049, P. R. China
- The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710049, P. R. China
- Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Center (BEBC), Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710049, P. R. China
| | - Qiuai Shu
- Department of Gastroenterology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710049, P. R. China
| | - Xiru Liang
- Department of Gastroenterology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710049, P. R. China
| | - Ziwei Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710049, P. R. China
- The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710049, P. R. China
- Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Center (BEBC), Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710049, P. R. China
| | - Jian Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Holistic Integrative Management of Gastrointestinal Cancers, Xijing Hospital of Digestive Diseases, Air Force Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710032, P. R. China
| | - Nianyuan Shi
- The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710049, P. R. China
- Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Center (BEBC), Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710049, P. R. China
- National Local Joint Engineering Research Center for Precision Surgery & Regenerative Medicine, Shaanxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Magnetic Medicine, Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710061, China
| | - Xindi Huang
- Department of Gastroenterology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710049, P. R. China
| | - Zhong-Cao Wei
- Department of Gastroenterology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710049, P. R. China
| | - Xiaoliang Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Holistic Integrative Management of Gastrointestinal Cancers, Xijing Hospital of Digestive Diseases, Air Force Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710032, P. R. China
| | - Hao Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Holistic Integrative Management of Gastrointestinal Cancers, Xijing Hospital of Digestive Diseases, Air Force Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710032, P. R. China
| | - Kaichun Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Holistic Integrative Management of Gastrointestinal Cancers, Xijing Hospital of Digestive Diseases, Air Force Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710032, P. R. China
| | - Jingyuan Xu
- Department of Gastroenterology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710049, P. R. China
- Department of Gastroenterology, the Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, 215001, P. R. China
| | - Jin-Hai Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710049, P. R. China
| | - Na Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hainan General Hospital (Hainan Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University), Haikou, 570311, P. R. China
| | - Feng Xu
- The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710049, P. R. China
- Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Center (BEBC), Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710049, P. R. China
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6
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Du G, Zhang J, Shuai Q, Li L, Zhang Q, Shi R. Development of alginate-collagen interpenetrating network for osteoarthritic cartilage by in situ softening. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 266:131259. [PMID: 38574937 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.131259] [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: 11/18/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
This study presents an alginate-collagen interpenetrating network (IPN) matrix of incorporating collagen fibrils into an alginate hydrogel by physical mixing and controlled gelation. The resulting matrix closely mimics the physiological and pathological stiffness range of the chondrocyte pericellular matrix (PCM). Chondrocytes were cultured within three-dimensional (3D) alginate-collagen IPN matrices with varying stiffness, namely Firm, Medium, and Soft. Alginate lyase was introduced to study the effects of the changes in stiffness of the Firm on chondrocyte response by in situ softening. The developed alginate-collagen IPN matrix displayed good cell-biocompatibility. Compared with stiffer tissue culture plastic (TCP), chondrocytes grown within Firm displayed a stabilized differentiated phenotype characterized by higher expression levels of aggrecan, collagen II, and SOX-9. Moreover, the developed alginate-collagen IPN matrix exhibited a gradually increased percentage of propidium iodide (PI)-positive dead cells with decreasing stiffness. Softer matrices directed cells towards higher proliferation rates and spherical morphologies while stimulating chondrocyte cluster formation. Furthermore, reducing Firm stiffness by in situ softening decreased aggrecan expression, contributing to matrix degradation similar to that seen in osteoarthritis (OA). Hence, the 3D alginate-collagen IPN constructs hold significant potential for in vitro replicating PCM stiffness changes observed in OA cartilage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Genlai Du
- Department of Cell Biology and Medical Genetics, School of Basic Medical Science, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, China; Key Laboratory of Cellular Physiology (Shanxi Medical University), Taiyuan 030001, China.
| | - Jiaqi Zhang
- Department of Cell Biology and Medical Genetics, School of Basic Medical Science, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, China; Key Laboratory of Cellular Physiology (Shanxi Medical University), Taiyuan 030001, China
| | - Qizhi Shuai
- Department of Cell Biology and Medical Genetics, School of Basic Medical Science, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, China; Key Laboratory of Cellular Physiology (Shanxi Medical University), Taiyuan 030001, China
| | - Li Li
- Department of Cell Biology and Medical Genetics, School of Basic Medical Science, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, China; Key Laboratory of Cellular Physiology (Shanxi Medical University), Taiyuan 030001, China
| | - Quanyou Zhang
- College of Biomedical Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan 030024, China; Department of Orthopaedics, the Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Shanxi Key Laboratory of Bone and Soft Tissue Injury Repair, Taiyuan 030001, China
| | - Ruyi Shi
- Department of Cell Biology and Medical Genetics, School of Basic Medical Science, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, China; Key Laboratory of Cellular Physiology (Shanxi Medical University), Taiyuan 030001, China.
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7
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Srbova L, Arasalo O, Lehtonen AJ, Pokki J. Measuring mechanical cues for modeling the stromal matrix in 3D cell cultures. SOFT MATTER 2024; 20:3483-3498. [PMID: 38587658 DOI: 10.1039/d3sm01425h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
A breast-cancer tumor develops within a stroma, a tissue where a complex extracellular matrix surrounds cells, mediating the cancer progression through biomechanical and -chemical cues. Current materials partially mimic the stromal matrix in 3D cell cultures but methods for measuring the mechanical properties of the matrix at cell-relevant-length scales and stromal-stiffness levels are lacking. Here, to address this gap, we developed a characterization approach that employs probe-based microrheometry and Bayesian modeling to quantify length-scale-dependent mechanics and mechanical heterogeneity as in the stromal matrix. We examined the interpenetrating network (IPN) composed of alginate scaffolds (for adjusting mechanics) and type-1 collagen (a stromal-matrix constituent). We analyzed viscoelasticity: absolute-shear moduli (stiffness/elasticity) and phase angles (viscous and elastic characteristics). We determined the relationship between microrheometry and rheometry information. Microrheometry reveals lower stiffness at cell-relevant scales, compared to macroscale rheometry, with dependency on the length scale (10 to 100 μm). These data show increasing IPN stiffness with crosslinking until saturation (≃15 mM of Ca2+). Furthermore, we report that IPN stiffness can be adjusted by modulating collagen concentration and interconnectivity (by polymerization temperature). The IPNs are heterogeneous structurally (in SEM) and mechanically. Interestingly, increased alginate crosslinking changes IPN heterogeneity in stiffness but not in phase angle, until the saturation. In contrast, such changes are undetectable in alginate scaffolds. Our nonlinear viscoelasticity analysis at tumor-cell-exerted strains shows that only the softer IPNs stiffen with strain, like the stromal-collagen constituent. In summary, our approach can quantify the stromal-matrix-related viscoelasticity and is likely applicable to other materials in 3D culture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda Srbova
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Automation, Aalto University, Espoo, FI-02150, Finland.
| | - Ossi Arasalo
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Automation, Aalto University, Espoo, FI-02150, Finland.
| | - Arttu J Lehtonen
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Automation, Aalto University, Espoo, FI-02150, Finland.
| | - Juho Pokki
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Automation, Aalto University, Espoo, FI-02150, Finland.
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8
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Anagnostidis V, Tiwari A, Gielen F. Deep learning-assisted concentration gradient generation for the study of 3D cell cultures in hydrogel beads of varying stiffness. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2024; 12:1364553. [PMID: 38665812 PMCID: PMC11044700 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2024.1364553] [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: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The study of dose-response relationships underpins analytical biosciences. Droplet microfluidics platforms can automate the generation of microreactors encapsulating varying concentrations of an assay component, providing datasets across a large chemical space in a single experiment. A classical method consists in varying the flow rate of multiple solutions co-flowing into a single microchannel (producing different volume fractions) before encapsulating the contents into water-in-oil droplets. This process can be automated through controlling the pumping elements but lacks the ability to adapt to unpredictable experimental scenarios, often requiring constant human supervision. In this paper, we introduce an image-based, closed-loop control system for assessing and adjusting volume fractions, thereby generating unsupervised, uniform concentration gradients. We trained a shallow convolutional neural network to assess the position of the laminar flow interface between two co-flowing fluids and used this model to adjust flow rates in real-time. We apply the method to generate alginate microbeads in which HEK293FT cells could grow in three dimensions. The stiffnesses ranged from 50 Pa to close to 1 kPa in Young modulus and were encoded with a fluorescent marker. We trained deep learning models based on the YOLOv4 object detector to efficiently detect both microbeads and multicellular spheroids from high-content screening images. This allowed us to map relationships between hydrogel stiffness and multicellular spheroid growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vasileios Anagnostidis
- Living Systems Institute, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Anuj Tiwari
- Living Systems Institute, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Fabrice Gielen
- Living Systems Institute, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
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9
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Major G, Ahn M, Cho WW, Santos M, Wise J, Phillips E, Wise SG, Jang J, Rnjak-Kovacina J, Woodfield T, Lim KS. Programming temporal stiffness cues within extracellular matrix hydrogels for modelling cancer niches. Mater Today Bio 2024; 25:101004. [PMID: 38420142 PMCID: PMC10900776 DOI: 10.1016/j.mtbio.2024.101004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Revised: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Extracellular matrix (ECM) stiffening is a common occurrence during the progression of many diseases, such as breast cancer. To accurately mimic the pathophysiological context of disease within 3D in vitro models, there is high demand for smart biomaterials which replicate the dynamic and temporal mechanical cues of diseased states. This study describes a preclinical disease model, using breast cancer as an example, which replicates the dynamic plasticity of the tumour microenvironment by incorporating temporal (3-week progression) biomechanical cues within a tissue-specific hydrogel microenvironment. The composite hydrogel formulation, integrating adipose-derived decellularised ECM (AdECM) and silk fibroin, was initially crosslinked using a visible light-mediated system, and then progressively stiffened through spontaneous secondary structure interactions inherent between the polymer chains (∼10-15 kPa increase, with a final stiffness of 25 kPa). When encapsulated and cultured in vitro, MCF-7 breast cancer cells initially formed numerous, large spheroids (>1000 μm2 in area), however, with progressive temporal stiffening, cells demonstrated growth arrest and underwent phenotypic changes resulting in intratumoral heterogeneity. Unlike widely-investigated static mechanical models, this stiffening hydrogel allowed for progressive phenotypic changes to be observed, and fostered the development of mature organoid-like spheroids, which mimicked both the organisation and acinar-structures of mature breast epithelium. The spheroids contained a central population of cells which expressed aggressive cellular programs, evidenced by increased fibronectin expression and reduction of E-cadherin. The phenotypic heterogeneity observed using this model is more reflective of physiological tumours, demonstrating the importance of establishing temporal cues within preclinical models in future work. Overall, the developed model demonstrated a novel strategy to uncouple ECM biomechanical properties from the cellular complexities of the disease microenvironment and offers the potential for wide applicability in other 3D in vitro disease models through addition of tissue-specific dECM materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gretel Major
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Musculoskeletal Medicine, Centre for Bioengineering & Nanomedicine, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Minjun Ahn
- Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, South Korea
| | - Won-Woo Cho
- Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, South Korea
| | - Miguel Santos
- Applied Materials Group, School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Jessika Wise
- Mackenzie Cancer Research Group, Department of Pathology and Biomedical Science, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Elisabeth Phillips
- Mackenzie Cancer Research Group, Department of Pathology and Biomedical Science, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Steven G Wise
- Applied Materials Group, School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Jinah Jang
- Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, South Korea
| | - Jelena Rnjak-Kovacina
- Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
- Tyree Institute of Health Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Tim Woodfield
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Musculoskeletal Medicine, Centre for Bioengineering & Nanomedicine, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Khoon S Lim
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Musculoskeletal Medicine, Centre for Bioengineering & Nanomedicine, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand
- Light-Activated Materials Group, School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney, Australia
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10
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Yakavets I, Ayachit M, Kheiri S, Chen Z, Rakhshani F, McWhirter S, Young EWK, Walker GC, Kumacheva E. A Microfluidic Platform for Evaluating the Internalization of Liposome Drug Carriers in Tumor Spheroids. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2024; 16:9690-9701. [PMID: 38357740 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c16330] [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: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
The development of in vitro models recapitulating nanoparticle transport under physiological flow conditions is of great importance for predicting the efficacy of nanoparticle drug carriers. Liposomes are extensively used for drug delivery owing to their biocompatibility and biodegradability and the ability to carry both hydrophilic and hydrophobic compounds. Here, we used a library of liposomes with various dimensions and a microfluidic platform comprising a large array of uniformly sized breast cancer spheroids to explore size-dependent liposome internalization and retention in the spheroids under close-to-physiological interstitial conditions. Such a platform showed promising applications in the preclinical screening of small molecule drugs; however, the capability to deliver nanoparticles in the spheroid interior under close-to-physiological flow conditions was not explored. For the liposomes with diameters in the range of 45-200 nm, we show experimentally and by simulations that in comparison with liposome delivery solely by diffusion, flow significantly enhances liposome internalization in the microgels and mitigates the size-dependent spheroid penetration by the liposomes. The utility of the microfluidic platform was validated by evaluating the efficacy of clinically approved doxorubicin-loaded liposomes (Doxil), which exhibited superior retention in the spheroids under flow conditions, in comparison with free doxorubicin. This MF platform can serve as an in vitro model for screening the efficacy of drugs encapsulated in liposomes and find applications for screening other types of nanoparticle carriers for vaccine delivery, diagnostics, and skincare.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilya Yakavets
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 St. George Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada
| | - Monica Ayachit
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 St. George Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada
- Department of Chemistry, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario K7L 3N6, Canada
| | - Sina Kheiri
- Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, 5 King's College Road, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G8, Canada
| | - Zhengkun Chen
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 St. George Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada
| | - Faeze Rakhshani
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 St. George Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada
| | - Samantha McWhirter
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 St. George Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada
| | - Edmond W K Young
- Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, 5 King's College Road, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G8, Canada
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, 164 College Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G9, Canada
| | - Gilbert C Walker
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 St. George Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada
| | - Eugenia Kumacheva
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 St. George Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, 164 College Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G9, Canada
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, 200 College Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3E5, Canada
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11
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Tevlek A. The role of decellularized cell derived extracellular matrix in the establishment and culture of in vitrobreast cancer tumor model. Biomed Mater 2024; 19:025037. [PMID: 38286003 DOI: 10.1088/1748-605x/ad2378] [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: 11/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 01/31/2024]
Abstract
Decades of research have shown that two-dimensional cell culture studies are insufficient for preclinical cancer diagnosis and treatment, and that cancer cells in three-dimensional (3D) culture systems have better cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions, gene expression, heterogeneity, and structural complexity that more closely resemblein vivotumors. Researchers are still optimizing 3D culturing settings for different cancers. Despite promising tumor spheroid research, tumor cell-only aggregates lack the tumor microenvironment and cannot model tumors. Here, MCF-7 breast cancer cell derived decellularized extracellular matrix (CD-dECMs) were obtained and converted into autologous, biologically active, biocompatible, and non-immunogenic hydrogels to be used as micro-environment in both organoid formation and culture. For the production of organoids, CD-dECM doping concentrations ranging from 0.1 mg ml-1to 1.5 mg ml-1were evaluated, and the lowest concentration was found to be the most effective. For organoid culture, 8 mg ml-1CD-dECM, 4 mg ml-1rat tendon collagen type I (Col I) (4 mg ml-1) and a 1:1 (v/v) mixture of these two were used and the most viable and the biggest organoids were discovered in CD-dECM/Col I (1:1) group. The results show that autologous CD-dECM can replace hydrogels in tumor organoid generation and culture at low and high concentrations, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atakan Tevlek
- Middle East Technical University (METU), MEMS Research and Application Center, 06530 Ankara, Turkey
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12
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Curvello R, Raghuwanshi VS, Wu CM, Mata J, Garnier G. Nano- and Microstructures of Collagen-Nanocellulose Hydrogels as Engineered Extracellular Matrices. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2024; 16:1370-1379. [PMID: 38117479 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c10353] [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: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
The extracellular matrix (ECM) is the fundamental acellular element of human tissues, providing their mechanical structure while delivering biomechanical and biochemical signals to cells. Three-dimensional (3D) tissue models commonly use hydrogels to recreate the ECM in vitro and support the growth of cells as organoids and spheroids. Collagen-nanocellulose (COL-NC) hydrogels rely on the blending of both polymers to design matrices with tailorable physical properties. Despite the promising application of these biomaterials in 3D tissue models, the architecture and network organization of COL-NC remain unclear. Here, we investigate the structural effects of incorporating NC fibers into COL hydrogels by small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) and ultra-SANS (USANS). The critical hierarchical structure parameters of fiber dimensions, interfiber distance, and coassembled open structures of NC and COL in the absence and presence of cells were determined. We found that NC expanded and increased the homogeneity in the COL network without affecting the inherent fiber properties of both polymers. Cells cultured as spheroids in COL-NC remodeled the hydrogel network without a significant impact on its architecture. Our study reveals the polymer organization of COL-NC hydrogels and demonstrates SANS and USANS as exceptional techniques to reveal nano- and micron-scale details on polymer organization, which leads to a better understanding of the structural properties of hydrogels to engineer novel ECMs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo Curvello
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Vikram Singh Raghuwanshi
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
- Bioresource Processing Research Institute of Australia (BioPRIA), Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Chun-Ming Wu
- Australian Centre for Neutron Scattering (ACNS), Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO), Lucas Height, New South Wales 2234, Australia
- National Synchrotron Radiation Research Center, Hsinchu 300092, Taiwan
| | - Jitendra Mata
- Australian Centre for Neutron Scattering (ACNS), Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO), Lucas Height, New South Wales 2234, Australia
- School of Chemistry, University of New South Wales, Sydney 2052, Australia
| | - Gil Garnier
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
- Bioresource Processing Research Institute of Australia (BioPRIA), Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
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13
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Meng X, Ma F, Yu D. The diverse effects of cisplatin on tumor microenvironment: Insights and challenges for the delivery of cisplatin by nanoparticles. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 240:117362. [PMID: 37827371 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.117362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2023] [Revised: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023]
Abstract
Cisplatin is a well-known platinum-based chemotherapy medication that is widely utilized for some malignancies. Despite the direct cytotoxic consequences of cisplatin on tumor cells, studies in the recent decade have revealed that cisplatin can also affect different cells and their secretions in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Cisplatin has complex impacts on the TME, which may contribute to its anti-tumor activity or drug resistance mechanisms. These regulatory effects of cisplatin play a paramount function in tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis. This paper aims to review the diverse impacts of cisplatin and nanoparticles loaded with cisplatin on cancer cells and also non-cancerous cells in TME. The impacts of cisplatin on immune cells, tumor stroma, cancer cells, and also hypoxia will be discussed in the current review. Furthermore, we emphasize the challenges and prospects of using cisplatin in combination with other adjuvants and therapeutic modalities that target TME. We also discuss the potential synergistic effects of cisplatin with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and other agents with anticancer potentials such as polyphenols and photosensitizers. Furthermore, the potential of nanoparticles for targeting TME and better delivery of cisplatin into tumors will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinxin Meng
- Zhuji Sixth People's Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Zhuji, Zhejiang, 311801, China
| | - Fengyun Ma
- Zhuji People's Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Zhuji Affiliated Hospital of Shaoxing University, Zhuji, Zhejiang, 311800, China.
| | - Dingli Yu
- Zhuji People's Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Zhuji Affiliated Hospital of Shaoxing University, Zhuji, Zhejiang, 311800, China
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14
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Bhattacharya A, Alam K, Roy NS, Kaur K, Kaity S, Ravichandiran V, Roy S. Exploring the interaction between extracellular matrix components in a 3D organoid disease model to replicate the pathophysiology of breast cancer. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2023; 42:343. [PMID: 38102637 PMCID: PMC10724947 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-023-02926-4] [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: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
In vitro models are necessary to study the pathophysiology of the disease and the development of effective, tailored treatment methods owing to the complexity and heterogeneity of breast cancer and the large population affected by it. The cellular connections and tumor microenvironments observed in vivo are often not recapitulated in conventional two-dimensional (2D) cell cultures. Therefore, developing 3D in vitro models that mimic the complex architecture and physiological circumstances of breast tumors is crucial for advancing our understanding of the illness. A 3D scaffold-free in vitro disease model mimics breast cancer pathophysiology by allowing cells to self-assemble/pattern into 3D structures, in contrast with other 3D models that rely on artificial scaffolds. It is possible that this model, whether applied to breast tumors using patient-derived primary cells (fibroblasts, endothelial cells, and cancer cells), can accurately replicate the observed heterogeneity. The complicated interactions between different cell types are modelled by integrating critical components of the tumor microenvironment, such as the extracellular matrix, vascular endothelial cells, and tumor growth factors. Tissue interactions, immune cell infiltration, and the effects of the milieu on drug resistance can be studied using this scaffold-free 3D model. The scaffold-free 3D in vitro disease model for mimicking tumor pathophysiology in breast cancer is a useful tool for studying the molecular basis of the disease, identifying new therapeutic targets, and evaluating treatment modalities. It provides a more physiologically appropriate high-throughput platform for screening large compound library in a 96-384 well format. We critically discussed the rapid development of personalized treatment strategies and accelerated drug screening platforms to close the gap between traditional 2D cell culture and in vivo investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anamitra Bhattacharya
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Kolkata, West Bengal, 700054, India
| | - Kamare Alam
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Kolkata, West Bengal, 700054, India
| | - Nakka Sharmila Roy
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Kolkata, West Bengal, 700054, India
| | - Kulwinder Kaur
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, RCSI University of Medicine a Health Sciences, Dublin, Ireland
- Tissue Engineering Research Group, Department of Anatomy & Regenerative Medicine, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Santanu Kaity
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Kolkata, West Bengal, 700054, India
| | - Velayutham Ravichandiran
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Kolkata, West Bengal, 700054, India
| | - Subhadeep Roy
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Kolkata, West Bengal, 700054, India.
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15
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Yu TY, Zhang G, Chai XX, Ren L, Yin DC, Zhang CY. Recent progress on the effect of extracellular matrix on occurrence and progression of breast cancer. Life Sci 2023; 332:122084. [PMID: 37716504 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2023.122084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Revised: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/18/2023]
Abstract
Breast cancer (BC) metastasis is an enormous challenge targeting BC therapy. The extracellular matrix (ECM), the principal component of the BC metastasis niche, is the pivotal driver of breast tumor development, whose biochemical and biophysical characteristics have attracted widespread attention. Here, we review the biological effects of ECM constituents and the influence of ECM stiffness on BC metastasis and drug resistance. We provide an overview of the relative signal transduction mechanisms, existing metastasis models, and targeted drug strategies centered around ECM stiffness. It will shed light on exploring more underlying targets and developing specific drugs aimed at ECM utilizing biomimetic platforms, which are promising for breast cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tong-Yao Yu
- Institute for Special Environmental Biophysics, Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, Shanxi, PR China
| | - Ge Zhang
- Institute for Special Environmental Biophysics, Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, Shanxi, PR China
| | - Xiao-Xia Chai
- Institute for Special Environmental Biophysics, Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, Shanxi, PR China
| | - Li Ren
- Institute for Special Environmental Biophysics, Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, Shanxi, PR China; Key Laboratory of Flexible Electronics of Zhejiang Province, Ningbo Institute of Northwestern Polytechnical University, Ningbo 315103, Zhejiang, PR China
| | - Da-Chuan Yin
- Institute for Special Environmental Biophysics, Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, Shanxi, PR China.
| | - Chen-Yan Zhang
- Institute for Special Environmental Biophysics, Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, Shanxi, PR China.
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16
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Morozova SM, Gevorkian A, Kumacheva E. Design, characterization and applications of nanocolloidal hydrogels. Chem Soc Rev 2023. [PMID: 37464914 DOI: 10.1039/d3cs00387f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/20/2023]
Abstract
Nanocolloidal gels (NCGs) are an emerging class of soft matter, in which nanoparticles act as building blocks of the colloidal network. Chemical or physical crosslinking enables NCG synthesis and assembly from a broad range of nanoparticles, polymers, and low-molecular weight molecules. The synergistic properties of NCGs are governed by nanoparticle composition, dimensions and shape, the mechanism of nanoparticle bonding, and the NCG architecture, as well as the nature of molecular crosslinkers. Nanocolloidal gels find applications in soft robotics, bioengineering, optically active coatings and sensors, optoelectronic devices, and absorbents. This review summarizes currently scattered aspects of NCG formation, properties, characterization, and applications. We describe the diversity of NCG building blocks, discuss the mechanisms of NCG formation, review characterization techniques, outline NCG fabrication and processing methods, and highlight most common NCG applications. The review is concluded with the discussion of perspectives in the design and development of NCGs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia M Morozova
- N.E. Bauman Moscow State Technical University, 5/1 2-nd Baumanskaya street, 105005, Moscow, Russia
- Department of Chemistry University of Toronto, 80 Saint George street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada.
| | - Albert Gevorkian
- Department of Chemistry University of Toronto, 80 Saint George street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada.
| | - Eugenia Kumacheva
- Department of Chemistry University of Toronto, 80 Saint George street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada.
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry University of Toronto, 200 College street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3E5, Canada
- The Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering University of Toronto, 4 Taddle Creek Road, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G9, Canada
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17
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Maldonado H, Leyton L. CSK-mediated signalling by integrins in cancer. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1214787. [PMID: 37519303 PMCID: PMC10382208 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1214787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer progression and metastasis are processes heavily controlled by the integrin receptor family. Integrins are cell adhesion molecules that constitute the central components of mechanosensing complexes called focal adhesions, which connect the extracellular environment with the cell interior. Focal adhesions act as key players in cancer progression by regulating biological processes, such as cell migration, invasion, proliferation, and survival. Src family kinases (SFKs) can interplay with integrins and their downstream effectors. SFKs also integrate extracellular cues sensed by integrins and growth factor receptors (GFR), transducing them to coordinate metastasis and cell survival in cancer. The non-receptor tyrosine kinase CSK is a well-known SFK member that suppresses SFK activity by phosphorylating its specific negative regulatory loop (C-terminal Y527 residue). Consequently, CSK may play a pivotal role in tumour progression and suppression by inhibiting SFK oncogenic effects in several cancer types. Remarkably, CSK can localise near focal adhesions when SFKs are activated and even interact with focal adhesion components, such as phosphorylated FAK and Paxillin, among others, suggesting that CSK may regulate focal adhesion dynamics and structure. Even though SFK oncogenic signalling has been extensively described before, the specific role of CSK and its crosstalk with integrins in cancer progression, for example, in mechanosensing, remain veiled. Here, we review how CSK, by regulating SFKs, can regulate integrin signalling, and focus on recent discoveries of mechanotransduction. We additionally examine the cross talk of integrins and GFR as well as the membrane availability of these receptors in cancer. We also explore new pharmaceutical approaches to these signalling pathways and analyse them as future therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Horacio Maldonado
- Receptor Dynamics in Cancer Laboratory, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Lisette Leyton
- Cellular Communication Laboratory, Programa de Biología Celular y Molecular, Center for Studies on Exercise, Metabolism and Cancer (CEMC), Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas (ICBM), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Advanced Center for Chronic Diseases (ACCDiS), Faculty of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
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18
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Li W, Zhou Z, Zhou X, Khoo BL, Gunawan R, Chin YR, Zhang L, Yi C, Guan X, Yang M. 3D Biomimetic Models to Reconstitute Tumor Microenvironment In Vitro: Spheroids, Organoids, and Tumor-on-a-Chip. Adv Healthc Mater 2023; 12:e2202609. [PMID: 36917657 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202202609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Revised: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023]
Abstract
Decades of efforts in engineering in vitro cancer models have advanced drug discovery and the insight into cancer biology. However, the establishment of preclinical models that enable fully recapitulating the tumor microenvironment remains challenging owing to its intrinsic complexity. Recent progress in engineering techniques has allowed the development of a new generation of in vitro preclinical models that can recreate complex in vivo tumor microenvironments and accurately predict drug responses, including spheroids, organoids, and tumor-on-a-chip. These biomimetic 3D tumor models are of particular interest as they pave the way for better understanding of cancer biology and accelerating the development of new anticancer therapeutics with reducing animal use. Here, the recent advances in developing these in vitro platforms for cancer modeling and preclinical drug screening, focusing on incorporating hydrogels are reviewed to reconstitute physiologically relevant microenvironments. The combination of spheroids/organoids with microfluidic technologies is also highlighted to better mimic in vivo tumors and discuss the challenges and future directions in the clinical translation of such models for drug screening and personalized medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenxiu Li
- Department of Precision Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technology, City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Futian Research Institute, Shenzhen, 518000, China
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Tung Biomedical Sciences Centre, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, 999077, China
| | - Zhihang Zhou
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Tung Biomedical Sciences Centre, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, 999077, China
- Department of Gastroenterology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400010, China
| | - Xiaoyu Zhou
- Department of Precision Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technology, City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Futian Research Institute, Shenzhen, 518000, China
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Tung Biomedical Sciences Centre, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, 999077, China
| | - Bee Luan Khoo
- Department of Precision Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technology, City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Futian Research Institute, Shenzhen, 518000, China
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 999077, China
| | - Renardi Gunawan
- Department of Precision Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technology, City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Futian Research Institute, Shenzhen, 518000, China
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Tung Biomedical Sciences Centre, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, 999077, China
| | - Y Rebecca Chin
- Department of Precision Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technology, City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Futian Research Institute, Shenzhen, 518000, China
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Tung Biomedical Sciences Centre, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, 999077, China
| | - Liang Zhang
- Department of Precision Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technology, City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Futian Research Institute, Shenzhen, 518000, China
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Tung Biomedical Sciences Centre, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, 999077, China
| | - Changqing Yi
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering and Technology Center of Advanced and Portable Medical Devices, School of Biomedical Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 518107, China
| | - Xinyuan Guan
- Department of Clinical Oncology, State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, 999077, China
| | - Mengsu Yang
- Department of Precision Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technology, City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Futian Research Institute, Shenzhen, 518000, China
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Tung Biomedical Sciences Centre, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, 999077, China
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19
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Shou Y, Teo XY, Wu KZ, Bai B, Kumar ARK, Low J, Le Z, Tay A. Dynamic Stimulations with Bioengineered Extracellular Matrix-Mimicking Hydrogels for Mechano Cell Reprogramming and Therapy. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2023:e2300670. [PMID: 37119518 PMCID: PMC10375194 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202300670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Cells interact with their surrounding environment through a combination of static and dynamic mechanical signals that vary over stimulus types, intensity, space, and time. Compared to static mechanical signals such as stiffness, porosity, and topography, the current understanding on the effects of dynamic mechanical stimulations on cells remains limited, attributing to a lack of access to devices, the complexity of experimental set-up, and data interpretation. Yet, in the pursuit of emerging translational applications (e.g., cell manufacturing for clinical treatment), it is crucial to understand how cells respond to a variety of dynamic forces that are omnipresent in vivo so that they can be exploited to enhance manufacturing and therapeutic outcomes. With a rising appreciation of the extracellular matrix (ECM) as a key regulator of biofunctions, researchers have bioengineered a suite of ECM-mimicking hydrogels, which can be fine-tuned with spatiotemporal mechanical cues to model complex static and dynamic mechanical profiles. This review first discusses how mechanical stimuli may impact different cellular components and the various mechanobiology pathways involved. Then, how hydrogels can be designed to incorporate static and dynamic mechanical parameters to influence cell behaviors are described. The Scopus database is also used to analyze the relative strength in evidence, ranging from strong to weak, based on number of published literatures, associated citations, and treatment significance. Additionally, the impacts of static and dynamic mechanical stimulations on clinically relevant cell types including mesenchymal stem cells, fibroblasts, and immune cells, are evaluated. The aim is to draw attention to the paucity of studies on the effects of dynamic mechanical stimuli on cells, as well as to highlight the potential of using a cocktail of various types and intensities of mechanical stimulations to influence cell fates (similar to the concept of biochemical cocktail to direct cell fate). It is envisioned that this progress report will inspire more exciting translational development of mechanoresponsive hydrogels for biomedical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yufeng Shou
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117583, Singapore
- Institute for Health Innovation and Technology, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117599, Singapore
| | - Xin Yong Teo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117583, Singapore
| | - Kenny Zhuoran Wu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117583, Singapore
| | - Bingyu Bai
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117583, Singapore
| | - Arun R K Kumar
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117583, Singapore
- Institute for Health Innovation and Technology, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117599, Singapore
- Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117597, Singapore
| | - Jessalyn Low
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117583, Singapore
| | - Zhicheng Le
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117583, Singapore
- Institute for Health Innovation and Technology, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117599, Singapore
| | - Andy Tay
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117583, Singapore
- Institute for Health Innovation and Technology, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117599, Singapore
- NUS Tissue Engineering Program, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117510, Singapore
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20
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Cameron AP, Gao S, Liu Y, Zhao CX. Impact of hydrogel biophysical properties on tumor spheroid growth and drug response. BIOMATERIALS ADVANCES 2023; 149:213421. [PMID: 37060634 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioadv.2023.213421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2022] [Revised: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/17/2023]
Abstract
The extracellular matrix (ECM) plays a critical role in regulating cell-matrix interactions during tumor progression. These interactions are due in large part to the biophysical properties responding to cancer cell interactions. Within in vitro models, the ECM is mimicked by hydrogels, which possess adjustable biophysical properties that are integral to tumor development. This work presents a systematic and comparative study on the impact of the biophysical properties of two widely used natural hydrogels, Matrigel and collagen gel, on tumor growth and drug response. The biophysical properties of Matrigel and collagen including complex modulus, loss tangent, diffusive permeability, and pore size, were characterised. Then the spheroid growth rates in these two hydrogels were monitored for spheroids with two different sizes (140 μm and 500 μm in diameters). An increased migratory growth was observed in the lower concentration of both the gels. The effect of spheroid incorporation within the hydrogel had a minimal impact on the hydrogel's complex modulus. Finally, 3D tumor models using different concentrations of hydrogels were applied for drug treatment using paclitaxel. Spheroids cultured in hydrogels with different concentrations showed different drug response, demonstrating the significant effect of the choice of hydrogels and their concentrations on the drug response results despite using the same spheroids. This study provides useful insights into the effect of hydrogel biophysical properties on spheroid growth and drug response and highlights the importance of hydrogel selection and in vitro model design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna P Cameron
- Australian institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Song Gao
- School of Chemical Engineering and Advanced Materials, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Yun Liu
- School of Chemical Engineering and Advanced Materials, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Chun-Xia Zhao
- Australian institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia; School of Chemical Engineering and Advanced Materials, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia.
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21
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Tang RZ, Liu XQ. Biophysical cues of in vitro biomaterials-based artificial extracellular matrix guide cancer cell plasticity. Mater Today Bio 2023; 19:100607. [PMID: 36960095 PMCID: PMC10027567 DOI: 10.1016/j.mtbio.2023.100607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Revised: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Clinical evidence supports a role for the extracellular matrix (ECM) in cancer plasticity across multiple tumor types. The lack of in vitro models that represent the native ECMs is a significant challenge for cancer research and drug discovery. Therefore, a major motivation for developing new tumor models is to create the artificial ECM in vitro. Engineered biomaterials can closely mimic the architectural and mechanical properties of ECM to investigate their specific effects on cancer progression, offering an alternative to animal models for the testing of cancer cell behaviors. In this review, we focused on the biomaterials from different sources applied in the fabrication of the artificial ECM and their biophysical cues to recapitulate key features of tumor niche. Furthermore, we summarized how the distinct biophysical cues guided cell behaviors of cancer plasticity, including morphology, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), enrichment of cancer stem cells (CSCs), proliferation, migration/invasion and drug resistance. We also discuss the future opportunities in using the artificial ECM for applications of tumorigenesis research and precision medicine, as well as provide useful messages of principles for designing suitable biomaterial scaffolds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui-Zhi Tang
- Key Laboratory for Molecular Diagnosis of Hubei Province, The Central Hospital of Wuhan, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430014, PR China
| | - Xi-Qiu Liu
- School of Pharmacy, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, PR China
- Corresponding author.
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22
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Lv C, Yan C, Xiang C, Yu L. Predictive value of acoustic radiation force impulse imaging in breast cancer after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Biotechnol Genet Eng Rev 2023:1-11. [PMID: 36943110 DOI: 10.1080/02648725.2023.2191087] [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: 03/23/2023]
Abstract
To investigate the predictive value of acoustic radiation force impulse imaging for neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer. Seventy-eight breast cancer patients treated in our hospital from March 2019 to March 2022 were recruited. They received neoadjuvant chemotherapy and were examined by conventional ultrasound and acoustic radiation force impulse imaging before chemotherapy and after two cycles of chemotherapy. The lesion diameter, intralesional blood flow pulsatility index (PI), resistance index (RI), shear wave velocity (SWV), and change rate (Δlesion diameter, ΔPI, ΔRI, ΔSWV) were compared between the two groups before and after chemotherapy. The receiver operating characteristic curve was drawn to evaluate the predictive power of related parameters on the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer. After two cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy, according to the Miller-Payne grading, 57 cases (73.08%) with significant neoadjuvant chemotherapy response were classified as the response group, and 21 cases (26.92%) with non-significant response were classified as the non-response group. Before and after chemotherapy, the difference in lesion diameter, PI, RI, SWV, and change rate (Δlesion diameter, ΔPI, ΔRI, and ΔSWV) was statistically significant between the two groups (P < 0.05). The area under the curve of ΔSWV in predicting the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy 0.876 (95%CI 0.781 ~ 0.939) was significantly higher than that of Δlesion diameter 0.652 (95%CI 0.535 ~ 0.756), that of ΔPI 0.712 (95%CI 0.599 ~ 0.809), and that of ΔRI 0.678 (95%CI 0.563 ~ 0.780) (P < 0.05). The change rate of tissue stiffness has a relatively high predictive value for the effect of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Lv
- Department of Ultrasound in Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Caoxin Yan
- Department of Ultrasound in Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Chunyuan Xiang
- Department of Ultrasound in Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Lili Yu
- Department of Ultrasound in Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
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23
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Huang Y, Morozova SM, Li T, Li S, Naguib HE, Kumacheva E. Stimulus-Responsive Transport Properties of Nanocolloidal Hydrogels. Biomacromolecules 2023; 24:1173-1183. [PMID: 36580573 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.2c01222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Applications of polymer hydrogels in separation technologies, environmental remediation, and drug delivery require control of hydrogel transport properties that are largely governed by the pore dimensions. Stimulus-responsive change in pore size offers the capability to change gel's transport properties "on demand". Here, we report a nanocolloidal hydrogel that exhibits temperature-controlled increase in pore size and, as a result, enhanced transport of encapsulated species from the gel. The hydrogel was formed by the covalent cross-linking of aldehyde-modified cellulose nanocrystals and chitosan carrying end-grafted poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (pNIPAm) molecules. Owing to the temperature-mediated coil-to-globule transition of pNIPAm grafts, they acted as a temperature-responsive "gate" in the hydrogel. At elevated temperature, the size of the pores showed up to a 4-fold increase, with no significant changes in volume, in contrast with conventional pNIPAm-derived gels exhibiting a reduction in both pore size and volume in similar conditions. Temperature-mediated transport properties of the gel were explored by studying diffusion of nanoparticles with different dimensions from the gel, leading to the established correlation between the kinetics of diffusion-governed nanoparticle release and the ratio nanoparticle dimensions-to-pore size. The proposed approach to stimulus-responsive control of hydrogel transport properties has many applications, including their use in nanomedicine and tissue engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuhang Huang
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, 200 College Street, Toronto, OntarioM5S 3E5, Canada
| | - Sofia M Morozova
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 Saint George Street, Toronto, OntarioM5S 3H6, Canada
- N.E. Bauman Moscow State Technical University, 5/1 Second Baumanskaya Street, Moscow105005, Russian Federation
| | - Terek Li
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Toronto, 184 College Street, Toronto, OntarioM5S 3E4, Canada
| | - Shangyu Li
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 Saint George Street, Toronto, OntarioM5S 3H6, Canada
| | - Hani E Naguib
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, 200 College Street, Toronto, OntarioM5S 3E5, Canada
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Toronto, 184 College Street, Toronto, OntarioM5S 3E4, Canada
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, 5 King's College Road, Toronto, OntarioM5S 3G8, Canada
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, 4 Taddle Creek Road, Toronto, OntarioM5S 3G9, Canada
| | - Eugenia Kumacheva
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, 200 College Street, Toronto, OntarioM5S 3E5, Canada
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 Saint George Street, Toronto, OntarioM5S 3H6, Canada
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, 4 Taddle Creek Road, Toronto, OntarioM5S 3G9, Canada
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24
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Yuan Z, Li Y, Zhang S, Wang X, Dou H, Yu X, Zhang Z, Yang S, Xiao M. Extracellular matrix remodeling in tumor progression and immune escape: from mechanisms to treatments. Mol Cancer 2023; 22:48. [PMID: 36906534 PMCID: PMC10007858 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-023-01744-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 117] [Impact Index Per Article: 117.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/11/2023] [Indexed: 03/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The malignant tumor is a multi-etiological, systemic and complex disease characterized by uncontrolled cell proliferation and distant metastasis. Anticancer treatments including adjuvant therapies and targeted therapies are effective in eliminating cancer cells but in a limited number of patients. Increasing evidence suggests that the extracellular matrix (ECM) plays an important role in tumor development through changes in macromolecule components, degradation enzymes and stiffness. These variations are under the control of cellular components in tumor tissue via the aberrant activation of signaling pathways, the interaction of the ECM components to multiple surface receptors, and mechanical impact. Additionally, the ECM shaped by cancer regulates immune cells which results in an immune suppressive microenvironment and hinders the efficacy of immunotherapies. Thus, the ECM acts as a barrier to protect cancer from treatments and supports tumor progression. Nevertheless, the profound regulatory network of the ECM remodeling hampers the design of individualized antitumor treatment. Here, we elaborate on the composition of the malignant ECM, and discuss the specific mechanisms of the ECM remodeling. Precisely, we highlight the impact of the ECM remodeling on tumor development, including proliferation, anoikis, metastasis, angiogenesis, lymphangiogenesis, and immune escape. Finally, we emphasize ECM "normalization" as a potential strategy for anti-malignant treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhennan Yuan
- Department of Oncological Surgery, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, 150081, China
| | - Yingpu Li
- Department of Oncological Surgery, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, 150081, China
| | - Sifan Zhang
- Department of Neurobiology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, China
| | - Xueying Wang
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, China
| | - He Dou
- Department of Oncological Surgery, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, 150081, China
| | - Xi Yu
- Department of Gynecological Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, 150081, China
| | - Zhiren Zhang
- NHC Key Laboratory of Cell Transplantation, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150001, China.,Institute of Metabolic Disease, Heilongjiang Academy of Medical Science, Heilongjiang Key Laboratory for Metabolic Disorder and Cancer Related Cardiovascular Diseases, Harbin, 150001, China
| | - Shanshan Yang
- Department of Gynecological Radiotherapy, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, 150000, China.
| | - Min Xiao
- Department of Oncological Surgery, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, 150081, China.
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25
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Shou Y, Teo XY, Li X, Zhicheng L, Liu L, Sun X, Jonhson W, Ding J, Lim CT, Tay A. Dynamic Magneto-Softening of 3D Hydrogel Reverses Malignant Transformation of Cancer Cells and Enhances Drug Efficacy. ACS NANO 2023; 17:2851-2867. [PMID: 36633150 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.2c11278] [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: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
High extracellular matrix stiffness is a prominent feature of malignant tumors associated with poor clinical prognosis. To elucidate mechanistic connections between increased matrix stiffness and tumor progression, a variety of hydrogel scaffolds with dynamic changes in stiffness have been developed. These approaches, however, are not biocompatible at high temperature, strong irradiation, and acidic/basic pH, often lack reversibility (can only stiffen and not soften), and do not allow study on the same cell population longitudinally. In this work, we develop a dynamic 3D magnetic hydrogel whose matrix stiffness can be wirelessly and reversibly stiffened and softened multiple times with different rates of change using an external magnet. With this platform, we found that matrix stiffness increased tumor malignancy including denser cell organization, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and hypoxia. More interestingly, these malignant transformations could be halted or reversed with matrix softening (i.e., mechanical rescue), to potentiate drug efficacy attributing to reduced solid stress from matrix and downregulation of cell mechano-transductors including YAP1. We propose that our platform can be used to deepen understanding of the impact of matrix softening on cancer biology, an important but rarely studied phenomenon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yufeng Shou
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, 117583, Singapore
- Institute for Health Innovation & Technology, National University of Singapore, 117599, Singapore
| | - Xin Yong Teo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, 117583, Singapore
| | - Xianlei Li
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, 117583, Singapore
- Institute for Health Innovation & Technology, National University of Singapore, 117599, Singapore
| | - Le Zhicheng
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, 117583, Singapore
- Institute for Health Innovation & Technology, National University of Singapore, 117599, Singapore
| | - Ling Liu
- Institute for Health Innovation & Technology, National University of Singapore, 117599, Singapore
- NUS Tissue Engineering Program, National University of Singapore, 117510, Singapore
| | - Xinhong Sun
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, 117583, Singapore
| | - Win Jonhson
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National University of Singapore, 117575, Singapore
| | - Jun Ding
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National University of Singapore, 117575, Singapore
| | - Chwee Teck Lim
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, 117583, Singapore
- Institute for Health Innovation & Technology, National University of Singapore, 117599, Singapore
- Mechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore, 117411, Singapore
| | - Andy Tay
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, 117583, Singapore
- Institute for Health Innovation & Technology, National University of Singapore, 117599, Singapore
- NUS Tissue Engineering Program, National University of Singapore, 117510, Singapore
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26
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Bessot A, Gunter J, Waugh D, Clements JA, Hutmacher DW, McGovern J, Bock N. GelMA and Biomimetic Culture Allow the Engineering of Mineralized, Adipose, and Tumor Tissue Human Microenvironments for the Study of Advanced Prostate Cancer In Vitro and In Vivo. Adv Healthc Mater 2023:e2201701. [PMID: 36708740 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202201701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Increasing evidence shows bone marrow (BM)-adipocytes as a potentially important contributor in prostate cancer (PCa) bone metastases. However, a lack of relevant models has prevented the full understanding of the effects of human BM-adipocytes in this microenvironment. It is hypothesized that the combination of tunable gelatin methacrylamide (GelMA)-based hydrogels with the biomimetic culture of human cells would offer a versatile 3D platform to engineer human bone tumor microenvironments containing BM-adipocytes. Human osteoprogenitors, adipocytes, and PCa cells are individually cultured in vitro in GelMA hydrogels, leading to mineralized, adipose, and PCa tumor 3D microtissues, respectively. Osteoblast mineralization and tumor spheroid formation are tailored by hydrogel stiffness with lower stiffnesses correlating with increased mineralization and tumor spheroid size. Upon coculture with tumor cells, BM-adipocytes undergo morphological changes and delipidation, suggesting reciprocal interactions between the cell types. When brought in vivo, the mineralized and adipose microtissues successfully form a humanized fatty bone microenvironment, presenting, for the first time, with human adipocytes. Using this model, an increase in tumor burden is observed when human adipocytes are present, suggesting that adipocytes support early bone tumor growth. The advanced platform presented here combines natural aspects of the microenvironment with tunable properties useful for bone tumor research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agathe Bessot
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, and Translational Research Institute (TRI), Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, 4102, Australia.,Australian Prostate Cancer Research Centre - Queensland (APCRC-Q), QUT, Brisbane, QLD, 4102, Australia.,Centre for Biomedical Technologies, QUT, Brisbane, QLD, 4000, Australia.,Max Planck Queensland Centre, Brisbane, QLD, 4059, Australia
| | - Jennifer Gunter
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, and Translational Research Institute (TRI), Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, 4102, Australia.,Australian Prostate Cancer Research Centre - Queensland (APCRC-Q), QUT, Brisbane, QLD, 4102, Australia.,Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health, QUT, Brisbane, QLD, 4102, Australia
| | - David Waugh
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, and Translational Research Institute (TRI), Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, 4102, Australia
| | - Judith A Clements
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, and Translational Research Institute (TRI), Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, 4102, Australia.,Australian Prostate Cancer Research Centre - Queensland (APCRC-Q), QUT, Brisbane, QLD, 4102, Australia
| | - Dietmar W Hutmacher
- School of Mechanical, Medical and Process Engineering, Engineering Faculty, QUT, Brisbane, QLD, 4000, Australia.,Max Planck Queensland Centre, Brisbane, QLD, 4059, Australia
| | - Jacqui McGovern
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, and Translational Research Institute (TRI), Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, 4102, Australia.,Centre for Biomedical Technologies, QUT, Brisbane, QLD, 4000, Australia.,Max Planck Queensland Centre, Brisbane, QLD, 4059, Australia
| | - Nathalie Bock
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, and Translational Research Institute (TRI), Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, 4102, Australia.,Australian Prostate Cancer Research Centre - Queensland (APCRC-Q), QUT, Brisbane, QLD, 4102, Australia.,Centre for Biomedical Technologies, QUT, Brisbane, QLD, 4000, Australia.,Max Planck Queensland Centre, Brisbane, QLD, 4059, Australia
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27
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Acharekar A, Bachal K, Shirke P, Thorat R, Banerjee A, Gardi N, Majumder A, Dutt S. Substrate stiffness regulates the recurrent glioblastoma cell morphology and aggressiveness. Matrix Biol 2023; 115:107-127. [PMID: 36563706 DOI: 10.1016/j.matbio.2022.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Recurrent glioblastoma is highly aggressive with currently no specific treatment regime. Therefore, to identify novel therapeutic targets for recurrent GBM, we used a cellular model developed in our lab from commercially available cell line U87MG and patient-derived cultures that allows the comparison between radiation naïve (Parent) and recurrent GBM cells generated after parent cells are exposed to lethal dose of radiation. Total RNA-seq of parent and recurrent population revealed significant upregulation of cell-ECM interactions pathway in the recurrent population. These results led us to hypothesize that the physical microenvironment contributes to the aggressiveness of recurrent GBM. To verify this, we cultured parent and recurrent GBM cells on collagen-coated polyacrylamide gels mimicking the stiffness of normal brain (Young's modulus E = 0.5kPa) or tumorigenic brain (E = 10kPa) and tissue culture plastic dishes (E ∼ 1 GPa). We found that compared to parent cells, recurrent cells showed higher proliferation, invasion, migration, and resistance to EGFR inhibitor. Using orthotopic GBM mouse model and resection model, we demonstrate that recurrent cells cultured on 0.5kPa had higher in vivo tumorigenicity and recurrent disease progression than parent cells, whereas these differences were insignificant when parent and recurrent cells were cultured on plastic substrates. Furthermore, recurrent cells on 0.5kPa showed high expression of ECM proteins like Collagen, MMP2 and MMP9. These proteins were also significantly upregulated in recurrent patient biopsies. Additionally, the brain of mice injected with recurrent cells grown on 0.5kPa showed higher Young's moduli suggesting the ability of these cells to make the surrounding ECM stiffer. Total RNA-seq of parent and recurrent cells grown on plastic and 0.5kpa identified PLEKHA7 significantly upregulated specifically in recurrent cells grown on 0.5 kPa substrate. PLEKHA7 was also found to be high in recurrent GBM patient biopsies. Accordingly, PLEKHA7 knockdown reduced invasion and survival of recurrent GBM cells. Together, these data provide an in vitro model system that captures the observed in vivo and clinical behavior of recurrent GBM by mimicking mechanical microenvironment and identifies PLEKHA7 as a novel potential target for recurrent GBM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anagha Acharekar
- Shilpee Dutt laboratory, Tata Memorial Centre, Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer, Navi Mumbai, 410210, India.; Homi Bhabha National Institute, Training School Complex, Anushakti Nagar, Mumbai, 400085, India
| | - Ketaki Bachal
- M-Lab, Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai, 400076, India
| | - Pallavi Shirke
- M-Lab, Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai, 400076, India
| | - Rahul Thorat
- Laboratory Animal Facility, Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer (ACTREC), Tata Memorial Centre (TMC), Kharghar, Navi Mumbai, India
| | - Archisman Banerjee
- Shilpee Dutt laboratory, Tata Memorial Centre, Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer, Navi Mumbai, 410210, India.; Homi Bhabha National Institute, Training School Complex, Anushakti Nagar, Mumbai, 400085, India
| | - Nilesh Gardi
- Department of Medical Oncology, Tata Memorial Hospital, Tata Memorial Centre, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra 410210, India.; Homi Bhabha National Institute, Training School Complex, Anushakti Nagar, Mumbai, 400085, India
| | - Abhijit Majumder
- M-Lab, Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai, 400076, India
| | - Shilpee Dutt
- Shilpee Dutt laboratory, Tata Memorial Centre, Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer, Navi Mumbai, 410210, India.; Homi Bhabha National Institute, Training School Complex, Anushakti Nagar, Mumbai, 400085, India..
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28
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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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29
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Johnson PA, Menegatti S, Chambers AC, Alibhai D, Collard TJ, Williams AC, Bayley H, Perriman AW. A rapid high throughput bioprinted colorectal cancer spheroid platform for in vitrodrug- and radiation-response. Biofabrication 2022; 15:014103. [PMID: 36321254 DOI: 10.1088/1758-5090/ac999f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
We describe the development of a high-throughput bioprinted colorectal cancer (CRC) spheroid platform with high levels of automation, information content, and low cell number requirement. This is achieved via the formulation of a hydrogel bioink with a compressive Young's modulus that is commensurate with that of colonic tissue (1-3 kPa), which supports exponential growth of spheroids from a wide range of CRC cell lines. The resulting spheroids display tight cell-cell junctions, bioink matrix-cell interactions and necrotic hypoxic cores. By combining high content light microscopy imaging and processing with rapid multiwell plate bioprinting, dose-response profiles are generated from CRC spheroids challenged with oxaliplatin (OX) and fluorouracil (5FU), as well as radiotherapy. Bioprinted CRC spheroids are shown to exhibit high levels of chemoresistance relative to cell monolayers, and OX was found to be significantly less effective against tumour spheroids than in monolayer culture, when compared to 5FU.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter A Johnson
- Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3TA, United Kingdom
| | - Sara Menegatti
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, United Kingdom
| | - Adam C Chambers
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, United Kingdom
| | - Dominic Alibhai
- Wolfson Bioimaging Facility, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, United Kingdom
| | - Tracey J Collard
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, United Kingdom
| | - Ann C Williams
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, United Kingdom
| | - Hagan Bayley
- Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3TA, United Kingdom
| | - Adam W Perriman
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, United Kingdom
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30
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Azimian Zavareh V, Rafiee L, Sheikholeslam M, Shariati L, Vaseghi G, Savoji H, Haghjooy Javanmard S. Three-Dimensional in Vitro Models: A Promising Tool To Scale-Up Breast Cancer Research. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2022; 8:4648-4672. [PMID: 36260561 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.2c00277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Common models used in breast cancer studies, including two-dimensional (2D) cultures and animal models, do not precisely model all aspects of breast tumors. These models do not well simulate the cell-cell and cell-stromal interactions required for normal tumor growth in the body and lake tumor like microenvironment. Three-dimensional (3D) cell culture models are novel approaches to studying breast cancer. They do not have the restrictions of these conventional models and are able to recapitulate the structural architecture, complexity, and specific function of breast tumors and provide similar in vivo responses to therapeutic regimens. These models can be a link between former traditional 2D culture and in vivo models and are necessary for further studies in cancer. This review attempts to summarize the most common 3D in vitro models used in breast cancer studies, including scaffold-free (spheroid and organoid), scaffold-based, and chip-based models, particularly focused on the basic and translational application of these 3D models in drug screening and the tumor microenvironment in breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vajihe Azimian Zavareh
- Applied Physiology Research Center, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan 81746 73461, Iran.,Core Research Facilities (CRF), Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan 81746 73461, Iran
| | - Laleh Rafiee
- Applied Physiology Research Center, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan 81746 73461, Iran
| | - Mohammadali Sheikholeslam
- Department of Biomaterials, Nanotechnology and Tissue Engineering, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan 81746 73461, Iran.,Biosensor Research Center, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan 81746 73461, Iran
| | - Laleh Shariati
- Department of Biomaterials, Nanotechnology and Tissue Engineering, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan 81746 73461, Iran.,Cancer Prevention Research Center, Omid Hospital, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan 81746 73461, Iran
| | - Golnaz Vaseghi
- Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Center, Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan 81746 73461, Iran
| | - Houman Savoji
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada.,Research Center, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine, Montreal, QC H3T 1C5, Canada.,Montreal TransMedTech Institute, Montreal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada
| | - Shaghayegh Haghjooy Javanmard
- Applied Physiology Research Center, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan 81746 73461, Iran
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31
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Liu Y, Pei Y, Xu J, Cheng Y, Tong Q, You H. Force-Dependent Intercalative Bulky DNA Adduct Formation Detected by Single-Molecule Stretching. Anal Chem 2022; 94:13623-13630. [PMID: 36129494 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.2c03594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Quantitatively analyzing the binding topology and reactivity is essential for understanding the cytotoxic or tumorigenic activities of bulky DNA adducts formed by chemotherapeutic drugs or carcinogens. Biochemical methods require purification of DNA and discontinuous steps to digest or label the adducts and thus have difficulties in identifying the binding topology and are not suitable for detecting unstable adducts. Herein, we used a single-molecule stretching assay to characterize the number of intercalative adducts, the formation kinetics, and the mechanical properties of intercalative DNA adducts based on measuring adduct-induced DNA elongation. We analyzed various reactive conditions, including formaldehyde-mediated anthracycline-DNA adducts, UV light-catalyzed psoralen-DNA adducts, and liver S9 fraction-catalyzed aflatoxin B1-DNA adducts. We showed that adduct formation abilities are correlated with the noncovalent intercalation binding ability. External forces on double-stranded DNA increased the intercalation of ligands and can result in a 1.8- to 5.3-fold increase in DNA adduct formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yajun Liu
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Natural Medicinal Chemistry and Resource Evaluation, School of Pharmacy, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Yufeng Pei
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Natural Medicinal Chemistry and Resource Evaluation, School of Pharmacy, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Jingjing Xu
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Natural Medicinal Chemistry and Resource Evaluation, School of Pharmacy, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China.,Department of Pharmacy, Liyuan Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430077, China
| | - Yuanlei Cheng
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Natural Medicinal Chemistry and Resource Evaluation, School of Pharmacy, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Qingyi Tong
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Natural Medicinal Chemistry and Resource Evaluation, School of Pharmacy, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Huijuan You
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Natural Medicinal Chemistry and Resource Evaluation, School of Pharmacy, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
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32
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Kpeglo D, Hughes MD, Dougan L, Haddrick M, Knowles MA, Evans SD, Peyman SA. Modeling the mechanical stiffness of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Matrix Biol Plus 2022; 14:100109. [PMID: 35399702 PMCID: PMC8990173 DOI: 10.1016/j.mbplus.2022.100109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Revised: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The PDAC stroma stiffness underlines its malignant behavior and drug resistance. 3D in vitro cultures must model the PDAC stroma to effectively drug efficacy. PSCs are responsible for the stroma, and its activity is increased with TGF-β. Develop a 3D culture model of PDAC, which includes PSCs and TGF-β. Assess the mechanical stiffness, stain for collagen, and investigate gemcitabine efficacy.
Despite improvements in the understanding of disease biology, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains the most malignant cancer of the pancreas. PDAC constitutes ∼95% of all pancreatic cancers, and it is highly resistant to therapeutics. The increased tissue rigidity, which stems from the rich fibrotic stroma in the tumor microenvironment, is central to disease development, physiology, and resistance to drug perfusion. Pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) are responsible for overproduction of extracellular matrix in the fibrotic stroma, and this is exacerbated by the overexpression of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β). However, there are few in vitro PDAC models, which include both PSCs and TGF-β or mimic in vivo-like tumor stiffness. In this study, we present a three-dimensional in vitro PDAC model, which includes PSCs and TGF-β, and recapitulates PDAC tissue mechanical stiffness. Using oscillatory shear rheology, we show the mechanical stiffness of the model is within range of the PDAC tissue stiffness by day 21 of culture and highlight that the matrix environment is essential to adequately capture PDAC disease. PDAC is a complex, aggressive disease with poor prognosis, and biophysically relevant in vitro PDAC models, which take into account tissue mechanics, will provide improved tumor models for effective therapeutic assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Delanyo Kpeglo
- Molecular and Nanoscale Physics Group, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leeds, LS2 9 JT, UK
| | - Matthew D.G. Hughes
- Molecular and Nanoscale Physics Group, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leeds, LS2 9 JT, UK
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Lorna Dougan
- Molecular and Nanoscale Physics Group, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leeds, LS2 9 JT, UK
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Malcolm Haddrick
- Medicines Discovery Catapult, Block 35, Mereside Alderley Park, Alderley Edge, SK10 4TG, UK
| | - Margaret A. Knowles
- Leeds Institute of Medical Research at St James’s (LIMR), School of Medicine, University of Leeds, LS2 9 JT, UK
| | - Stephen D. Evans
- Molecular and Nanoscale Physics Group, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leeds, LS2 9 JT, UK
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Sally A. Peyman
- Molecular and Nanoscale Physics Group, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leeds, LS2 9 JT, UK
- Leeds Institute of Medical Research at St James’s (LIMR), School of Medicine, University of Leeds, LS2 9 JT, UK
- Corresponding author at: Molecular and Nanoscale Physics Group, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leeds, LS2 9 JT, UK.
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33
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Kuermanbayi S, Yang Y, Zhao Y, Li Y, Wang L, Yang J, Zhou Y, Xu F, Li F. In situ monitoring of functional activity of extracellular matrix stiffness-dependent multidrug resistance protein 1 using scanning electrochemical microscopy. Chem Sci 2022; 13:10349-10360. [PMID: 36277620 PMCID: PMC9473519 DOI: 10.1039/d2sc02708a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Extracellular matrix (ECM) stiffness affects the drug resistance behavior of cancer cells, while multidrug resistance protein 1 (MRP1) on the cell membrane confers treatment resistance via actively transporting drugs out of cancer cells. However, the relationship between ECM stiffness and MRP1 functional activity in cancer cells remains elusive, mainly due to the technical challenge of in situ monitoring. Herein, we engineered in vitro cancer cell models using breast cancer cells (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells) as the reprehensive cells on polyacrylamide (PA) gels with three stiffness, mimicking different developmental stages of cancer. We in situ characterized the functional activity of MRP1 and investigated the effect of ECM stiffness on MRP1 of cancer cells before and after vincristine treatment using scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) with ferrocenecarboxylic acid (FcCOOH) as the redox mediator and endogenous glutathione (GSH) as the indicator. The SECM results show that the functional activity of MRP1 is enhanced with increasing ECM stiffness, and the MRP1-mediated vincristine efflux activity of MCF-7 cells is more affected by ECM stiffness than that of MDA-MB-231 cells. This work, for the first time, applied SECM to in situ and quantitatively monitor the functional activity of MRP1 in cancer cells in different tumor mechanical microenvironments, which could help to elucidate the mechanism of matrix stiffness-dependent drug resistance behavior in cancer cells. SECM using FcCOOH as the redox mediator and endogenous GSH as the indicator was employed to investigate the effect of extracellular matrix stiffness on the functional activity of MRP1 in cancer cells in situ.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuake Kuermanbayi
- The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, 710049, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
- Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Center (BEBC), Xi'an Jiaotong University, 710049, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yaowei Yang
- The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, 710049, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
- Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Center (BEBC), Xi'an Jiaotong University, 710049, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yuxiang Zhao
- The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, 710049, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
- Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Center (BEBC), Xi'an Jiaotong University, 710049, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yabei Li
- Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Center (BEBC), Xi'an Jiaotong University, 710049, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
- School of Chemistry, Xi'an Jiaotong University, 710049, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Le Wang
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Medical College, Xi'an Jiaotong University, 710049, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Jin Yang
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Medical College, Xi'an Jiaotong University, 710049, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yan Zhou
- The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, 710049, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
- Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Center (BEBC), Xi'an Jiaotong University, 710049, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Feng Xu
- The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, 710049, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
- Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Center (BEBC), Xi'an Jiaotong University, 710049, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Fei Li
- The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, 710049, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
- Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Center (BEBC), Xi'an Jiaotong University, 710049, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
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34
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Prince E, Kheiri S, Wang Y, Xu F, Cruickshank J, Topolskaia V, Tao H, Young EWK, McGuigan AP, Cescon DW, Kumacheva E. Microfluidic Arrays of Breast Tumor Spheroids for Drug Screening and Personalized Cancer Therapies. Adv Healthc Mater 2022; 11:e2101085. [PMID: 34636180 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202101085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2021] [Revised: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
One of the obstacles limiting progress in the development of effective cancer therapies is the shortage of preclinical models that capture the dynamic nature of tumor microenvironments. Interstitial flow strongly impacts tumor response to chemotherapy; however, conventional in vitro cancer models largely disregard this key feature. Here, a proof of principle microfluidic platform for the generation of large arrays of breast tumor spheroids that are grown under close-to-physiological flow in a biomimetic hydrogel is reported. This cancer spheroids-on-a-chip model is used for time- and labor-efficient studies of the effects of drug dose and supply rate on the chemosensitivity of breast tumor spheroids. The capability to grow large arrays of tumor spheroids from patient-derived cells of different breast cancer subtypes is shown, and the correlation between in vivo drug efficacy and on-chip spheroid drug response is demonstrated. The proposed platform can serve as an in vitro preclinical model for the development of personalized cancer therapies and effective screening of new anticancer drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth Prince
- Department of Chemistry University of Toronto 80 St. George St Toronto Ontario M5P 2Y2 Canada
| | - Sina Kheiri
- Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering University of Toronto 5 King's College Circle Toronto Ontario M5S 3G8 Canada
| | - Yihe Wang
- Department of Chemistry University of Toronto 80 St. George St Toronto Ontario M5P 2Y2 Canada
| | - Fei Xu
- Department of Chemistry University of Toronto 80 St. George St Toronto Ontario M5P 2Y2 Canada
| | - Jennifer Cruickshank
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre University Health Network 610 University Ave Toronto Ontario M5G 2C1 Canada
| | - Valentina Topolskaia
- Department of Chemistry University of Toronto 80 St. George St Toronto Ontario M5P 2Y2 Canada
| | - Huachen Tao
- Department of Chemistry University of Toronto 80 St. George St Toronto Ontario M5P 2Y2 Canada
| | - Edmond W. K. Young
- Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering University of Toronto 5 King's College Circle Toronto Ontario M5S 3G8 Canada
- Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering University of Toronto 164 College St Toronto Ontario M5S 3G9 Canada
| | - Alison. P. McGuigan
- Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering University of Toronto 164 College St Toronto Ontario M5S 3G9 Canada
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry University of Toronto 200 College St Toronto Ontario M5S 3E5 Canada
| | - David W. Cescon
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre University Health Network 610 University Ave Toronto Ontario M5G 2C1 Canada
| | - Eugenia Kumacheva
- Department of Chemistry University of Toronto 80 St. George St Toronto Ontario M5P 2Y2 Canada
- Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering University of Toronto 164 College St Toronto Ontario M5S 3G9 Canada
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry University of Toronto 200 College St Toronto Ontario M5S 3E5 Canada
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35
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Kheiri S, Kumacheva E, Young EWK. Computational Modelling and Big Data Analysis of Flow and Drug Transport in Microfluidic Systems: A Spheroid-on-a-Chip Study. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2021; 9:781566. [PMID: 34888303 PMCID: PMC8650096 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2021.781566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 10/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Microfluidic tumour spheroid-on-a-chip platforms enable control of spheroid size and their microenvironment and offer the capability of high-throughput drug screening, but drug supply to spheroids is a complex process that depends on a combination of mechanical, biochemical, and biophysical factors. To account for these coupled effects, many microfluidic device designs and operating conditions must be considered and optimized in a time- and labour-intensive trial-and-error process. Computational modelling facilitates a systematic exploration of a large design parameter space via in silico simulations, but the majority of in silico models apply only a small set of conditions or parametric levels. Novel approaches to computational modelling are needed to explore large parameter spaces and accelerate the optimization of spheroid-on-a-chip and other organ-on-a-chip designs. Here, we report an efficient computational approach for simulating fluid flow and transport of drugs in a high-throughput arrayed cancer spheroid-on-a-chip platform. Our strategy combines four key factors: i) governing physical equations; ii) parametric sweeping; iii) parallel computing; and iv) extensive dataset analysis, thereby enabling a complete “full-factorial” exploration of the design parameter space in combinatorial fashion. The simulations were conducted in a time-efficient manner without requiring massive computational time. As a case study, we simulated >15,000 microfluidic device designs and flow conditions for a representative multicellular spheroids-on-a-chip arrayed device, thus acquiring a single dataset consisting of ∼10 billion datapoints in ∼95 GBs. To validate our computational model, we performed physical experiments in a representative spheroid-on-a-chip device that showed excellent agreement between experimental and simulated data. This study offers a computational strategy to accelerate the optimization of microfluidic device designs and provide insight on the flow and drug transport in spheroid-on-a-chip and other biomicrofluidic platforms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sina Kheiri
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Eugenia Kumacheva
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Edmond W K Young
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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36
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Khuu N, Kheiri S, Kumacheva E. Structurally anisotropic hydrogels for tissue engineering. TRENDS IN CHEMISTRY 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.trechm.2021.09.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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37
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Chen Z, Kheiri S, Gevorkian A, Young EWK, Andre V, Deisenroth T, Kumacheva E. Microfluidic arrays of dermal spheroids: a screening platform for active ingredients of skincare products. LAB ON A CHIP 2021; 21:3952-3962. [PMID: 34636823 DOI: 10.1039/d1lc00619c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Organotypic micrometre-size 3D aggregates of skin cells (multicellular spheroids) have emerged as a promising in vitro model that can be utilized as an alternative of animal models to test active ingredients (AIs) of skincare products; however, a reliable dermal spheroid-based microfluidic (MF) model with a goal of in vitro AI screening is yet to be developed. Here, we report a MF platform for the growth of massive arrays of dermal fibroblast spheroids (DFSs) in a biomimetic hydrogel under close-to-physiological flow conditions and with the capability of screening AIs for skincare products. The DFSs formed after two days of on-chip culture and, in a case study, were used in a time-efficient manner for screening the effect of vitamin C on the synthesis of collagen type I and fibronectin. The computational simulation showed that the uptake of vitamin C was dominated by the advection flux. The results of screening the benchmark AI, vitamin C, proved that DFSs can serve as a reliable in vitro dermal model. The proposed DFS-based MF platform offers a high screening capacity for AIs of skincare products, as well as drug discovery and development in dermatology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengkun Chen
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 Saint George Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3H6, Canada.
| | - Sina Kheiri
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, 5 King's College Road, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3G8, Canada
| | - Albert Gevorkian
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 Saint George Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3H6, Canada.
| | - Edmond W K Young
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, 5 King's College Road, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3G8, Canada
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, 164 College Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3G9, Canada
| | - Valerie Andre
- BASF Beauty Care Solutions France S.A.S, 32, rue Saint Jean de Dieu, 69007, Lyon, France
| | - Ted Deisenroth
- BASF Advanced Formulation Research North America, 500 White Plains Road, Tarrytown, New York, 10591, USA
| | - Eugenia Kumacheva
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 Saint George Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3H6, Canada.
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, 200 College Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3E5, Canada
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, 164 College Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3G9, Canada
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38
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Vernerey FJ, Lalitha Sridhar S, Muralidharan A, Bryant SJ. Mechanics of 3D Cell-Hydrogel Interactions: Experiments, Models, and Mechanisms. Chem Rev 2021; 121:11085-11148. [PMID: 34473466 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.1c00046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Hydrogels are highly water-swollen molecular networks that are ideal platforms to create tissue mimetics owing to their vast and tunable properties. As such, hydrogels are promising cell-delivery vehicles for applications in tissue engineering and have also emerged as an important base for ex vivo models to study healthy and pathophysiological events in a carefully controlled three-dimensional environment. Cells are readily encapsulated in hydrogels resulting in a plethora of biochemical and mechanical communication mechanisms, which recapitulates the natural cell and extracellular matrix interaction in tissues. These interactions are complex, with multiple events that are invariably coupled and spanning multiple length and time scales. To study and identify the underlying mechanisms involved, an integrated experimental and computational approach is ideally needed. This review discusses the state of our knowledge on cell-hydrogel interactions, with a focus on mechanics and transport, and in this context, highlights recent advancements in experiments, mathematical and computational modeling. The review begins with a background on the thermodynamics and physics fundamentals that govern hydrogel mechanics and transport. The review focuses on two main classes of hydrogels, described as semiflexible polymer networks that represent physically cross-linked fibrous hydrogels and flexible polymer networks representing the chemically cross-linked synthetic and natural hydrogels. In this review, we highlight five main cell-hydrogel interactions that involve key cellular functions related to communication, mechanosensing, migration, growth, and tissue deposition and elaboration. For each of these cellular functions, recent experiments and the most up to date modeling strategies are discussed and then followed by a summary of how to tune hydrogel properties to achieve a desired functional cellular outcome. We conclude with a summary linking these advancements and make the case for the need to integrate experiments and modeling to advance our fundamental understanding of cell-matrix interactions that will ultimately help identify new therapeutic approaches and enable successful tissue engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franck J Vernerey
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado at Boulder, 1111 Engineering Drive, Boulder, Colorado 80309-0428, United States.,Materials Science and Engineering Program, University of Colorado at Boulder, 4001 Discovery Drive, Boulder, Colorado 80309-613, United States
| | - Shankar Lalitha Sridhar
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado at Boulder, 1111 Engineering Drive, Boulder, Colorado 80309-0428, United States
| | - Archish Muralidharan
- Materials Science and Engineering Program, University of Colorado at Boulder, 4001 Discovery Drive, Boulder, Colorado 80309-613, United States
| | - Stephanie J Bryant
- Materials Science and Engineering Program, University of Colorado at Boulder, 4001 Discovery Drive, Boulder, Colorado 80309-613, United States.,Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado at Boulder, 3415 Colorado Avenue, Boulder, Colorado 80309-0596, United States.,BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado at Boulder, 3415 Colorado Avenue, Boulder, Colorado 80309-0596, United States
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39
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Paradiso F, Serpelloni S, Francis LW, Taraballi F. Mechanical Studies of the Third Dimension in Cancer: From 2D to 3D Model. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:10098. [PMID: 34576261 PMCID: PMC8472581 DOI: 10.3390/ijms221810098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Revised: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
From the development of self-aggregating, scaffold-free multicellular spheroids to the inclusion of scaffold systems, 3D models have progressively increased in complexity to better mimic native tissues. The inclusion of a third dimension in cancer models allows researchers to zoom out from a significant but limited cancer cell research approach to a wider investigation of the tumor microenvironment. This model can include multiple cell types and many elements from the extracellular matrix (ECM), which provides mechanical support for the tissue, mediates cell-microenvironment interactions, and plays a key role in cancer cell invasion. Both biochemical and biophysical signals from the extracellular space strongly influence cell fate, the epigenetic landscape, and gene expression. Specifically, a detailed mechanistic understanding of tumor cell-ECM interactions, especially during cancer invasion, is lacking. In this review, we focus on the latest achievements in the study of ECM biomechanics and mechanosensing in cancer on 3D scaffold-based and scaffold-free models, focusing on each platform's level of complexity, up-to-date mechanical tests performed, limitations, and potential for further improvements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Paradiso
- Center for Musculoskeletal Regeneration, Houston Methodist Research Institute, 6670 Bertner Ave, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (F.P.); (S.S.)
- Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital, 6445 Main St., Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Reproductive Biology and Gynaecological Oncology Group, Swansea University Medical School, Singleton Park, Swansea, Wales SA2 8PP, UK;
| | - Stefano Serpelloni
- Center for Musculoskeletal Regeneration, Houston Methodist Research Institute, 6670 Bertner Ave, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (F.P.); (S.S.)
- Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital, 6445 Main St., Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Lewis W. Francis
- Reproductive Biology and Gynaecological Oncology Group, Swansea University Medical School, Singleton Park, Swansea, Wales SA2 8PP, UK;
| | - Francesca Taraballi
- Center for Musculoskeletal Regeneration, Houston Methodist Research Institute, 6670 Bertner Ave, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (F.P.); (S.S.)
- Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital, 6445 Main St., Houston, TX 77030, USA
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40
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Wang MM, Cui JF. Role of mechanosensitive ion channel Piezo1 in tumors. Shijie Huaren Xiaohua Zazhi 2021; 29:758-764. [DOI: 10.11569/wcjd.v29.i14.758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
A better understanding of mechanotransduction mechanisms is the key to exploring biomechanical signal-regulated tumor malignant characteristics, and it is also the theoretical and practical basis for effective intervention from the upstream of mechanical cues. The discovery of the novel mechanosensitive ion channel protein Piezo1 (piezo type mechanosensitive ion channel component 1) provides a new perspective for the study of mechanotransduction mechanism in tumors. This article summarizes some of the latest research progress of Piezo1 in modulating tumor progression, including inducing cell carcinogenesis; regulating cell cycle, proliferation, invasion, and metastasis; influencing tumor stemness and angiogenesis; as well as reprogramming tumor immune microenvironment, etc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mi-Mi Wang
- Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Jie-Feng Cui
- Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
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Investigation on the Composition of Agarose-Collagen I Blended Hydrogels as Matrices for the Growth of Spheroids from Breast Cancer Cell Lines. Pharmaceutics 2021; 13:pharmaceutics13070963. [PMID: 34206758 PMCID: PMC8308953 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13070963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2021] [Revised: 06/18/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Three-dimensional (3D) cell culture systems mimic the structural complexity of the tissue microenvironment and are gaining increasing importance as they resemble the extracellular matrix (ECM)–cell and cell–cell physical interactions occurring in vivo. Several scaffold-based culture systems have been already proposed as valuable tools for large-scale production of spheroids, but they often suffer of poor reproducibility or high costs of production. In this work, we present a reliable 3D culture system based on collagen I-blended agarose hydrogels and show how the variation in the agarose percentage affects the physical and mechanical properties of the resulting hydrogel. The influence of the different physical and mechanical properties of the blended hydrogels on the growth, size, morphology, and cell motility of the spheroids obtained by culturing three different breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7, MDA-MB-361, and MDA-MB-231) was also evaluated. As proof of concept, the cisplatin penetration and its cytotoxic effect on the tumor spheroids as function of the hydrogel stiffness were also investigated. Noteworthily, the possibility to recover the spheroids from the hydrogels for further processing and other biological studies has been considered. This feature, in addition to the ease of preparation, the lack of cross-linking chemistry and the high reproducibility, makes this hydrogel a reliable biomimetic matrix for the growth of 3D cell structures.
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Prince E, Chen Z, Khuu N, Kumacheva E. Nanofibrillar Hydrogel Recapitulates Changes Occurring in the Fibrotic Extracellular Matrix. Biomacromolecules 2021; 22:2352-2362. [PMID: 33783190 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.0c01714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Fibrosis is a pathological condition that leads to excessive deposition of collagen and increased tissue stiffness. Understanding the mechanobiology of fibrotic tissue necessitates the development of effective in vitro models that recapitulate its properties and structure; however, hydrogels that are currently used for this purpose fail to mimic the filamentous structure and mechanical properties of the fibrotic extracellular matrix (ECM). Here, we report a nanofibrillar hydrogel composed of cellulose nanocrystals and gelatin, which addresses this challenge. By altering the composition of the hydrogel, we mimicked the changes in structure, mechanical properties, and chemistry of fibrotic ECM. Furthermore, we decoupled the variations in hydrogel structure, properties, and ligand concentration. We demonstrate that this biocompatible hydrogel supports the three-dimensional culture of cells relevant to fibrotic diseases. This versatile hydrogel can be used for in vitro studies of fibrosis of different tissues, thus enabling the development of novel treatments for fibrotic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth Prince
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 Saint George Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 3H6
| | - Zhengkun Chen
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 Saint George Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 3H6
| | - Nancy Khuu
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 Saint George Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 3H6
| | - Eugenia Kumacheva
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 Saint George Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 3H6.,Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, 200 College Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 3E5.,Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, 4 Taddle Creek Road, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 3G9
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