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G K AV, Gogoi G, Kachappilly MC, Rangarajan A, Pandya HJ. Label-free multimodal electro-thermo-mechanical (ETM) phenotyping as a novel biomarker to differentiate between normal, benign, and cancerous breast biopsy tissues. J Biol Eng 2023; 17:68. [PMID: 37957665 PMCID: PMC10644568 DOI: 10.1186/s13036-023-00388-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Technologies for quick and label-free diagnosis of malignancies from breast tissues have the potential to be a significant adjunct to routine diagnostics. The biophysical phenotypes of breast tissues, such as its electrical, thermal, and mechanical properties (ETM), have the potential to serve as novel markers to differentiate between normal, benign, and malignant tissue. RESULTS We report a system-of-biochips (SoB) integrated into a semi-automated mechatronic system that can characterize breast biopsy tissues using electro-thermo-mechanical sensing. The SoB, fabricated on silicon using microfabrication techniques, can measure the electrical impedance (Z), thermal conductivity (K), mechanical stiffness (k), and viscoelastic stress relaxation (%R) of the samples. The key sensing elements of the biochips include interdigitated electrodes, resistance temperature detectors, microheaters, and a micromachined diaphragm with piezoresistive bridges. Multi-modal ETM measurements performed on formalin-fixed tumour and adjacent normal breast biopsy samples from N = 14 subjects were able to differentiate between invasive ductal carcinoma (malignant), fibroadenoma (benign), and adjacent normal (healthy) tissues with a root mean square error of 0.2419 using a Gaussian process classifier. Carcinoma tissues were observed to have the highest mean impedance (110018.8 ± 20293.8 Ω) and stiffness (0.076 ± 0.009 kNm-1) and the lowest thermal conductivity (0.189 ± 0.019 Wm-1 K-1) amongst the three groups, while the fibroadenoma samples had the highest percentage relaxation in normalized load (47.8 ± 5.12%). CONCLUSIONS The work presents a novel strategy to characterize the multi-modal biophysical phenotype of breast biopsy tissues to aid in cancer diagnosis from small-sized tumour samples. The methodology envisions to supplement the existing technology gap in the analysis of breast tissue samples in the pathology laboratories to aid the diagnostic workflow.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anil Vishnu G K
- Center for BioSystems Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Karnataka, 560012, India
| | - Gayatri Gogoi
- Department of Pathology, Assam Medical College, Dibrugarh, Assam, 786002, India
| | - Midhun C Kachappilly
- Department of Electronic Systems Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Karnataka, 560012, India
| | - Annapoorni Rangarajan
- Department of Developmental Biology and Genetics, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Karnataka, 560012, India
| | - Hardik J Pandya
- Department of Electronic Systems Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Karnataka, 560012, India.
- Centre for Product Design and Manufacturing, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Karnataka, 560012, India.
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Salehi M, Piri H, Farasat A, Pakbin B, Gheibi N. Activation of apoptosis and G0/G1 cell cycle arrest along with inhibition of melanogenesis by humic acid and fulvic acid: BAX/BCL-2 and Tyr genes expression and evaluation of nanomechanical properties in A375 human melanoma cell line. IRANIAN JOURNAL OF BASIC MEDICAL SCIENCES 2022; 25:489-496. [PMID: 35656077 PMCID: PMC9150800 DOI: 10.22038/ijbms.2022.60651.13444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 04/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Objectives Humic acid (HA) and Fulvic acid (FA) are major members of humic substances, which are extracted from organic sources including soil and peat. The pro-apoptotic and anti-melanogenic effects of HA and FA at the cellular and molecular levels in the A375 human melanoma cell line were examined in this study. Materials and Methods The cytotoxicity effect of HA and FA were evaluated by cell viability assay. Apoptosis and cell cycle were investigated by flow cytometry. Real-time PCR was carried out to measure the expression of BAX, BCL-2, and Tyr genes. Moreover, the changes in nanomechanical properties were determined through atomic force microscopy (AFM). Results It was found that HA and FA decrease cell viability with an IC50 value of 50 µg/ml (dose-dependent) for 14 hr, arrested cells in the G0/G1 phase, and increased the sub-G1 phase (induce apoptosis). Based on the AFM analysis, Young's modulus and adhesion force values were increased, also ultrastructural characteristics of cells were changed. Results of Real-time PCR revealed that HA and FA lead to a decrease in the expressions of BCL-2 and Tyr genes, and increase the BAX gene expression. Conclusion These results exhibited that HA and FA possess pro-apoptotic effects through increasing the BAX/ BCL-2 expression in A375 cells. These molecular reports were confirmed by cellular nanomechanical assessments using AFM and flow cytometry. In addition, HA and FA inhibited melanogenesis by decreasing the expression of the Tyr gene. It is worthwhile to note that, HA and FA can be regarded to design new anti-cancer and anti-melanogenesis products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mitra Salehi
- Student Research Committee, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran
| | - Hossein Piri
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, School of Medicine, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran,Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Research Institute for Prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran,Corresponding authors: Hossein Piri. Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, School of Medicine, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran; Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Research Institute for Prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran. ; Nematollah Gheibi. Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Research Institute for Prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran. Tel: +98-2813330534; Fax: +98-2813324970; ;
| | - Alireza Farasat
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Research Institute for Prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran
| | - Babak Pakbin
- Medical Microbiology Research Center, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran
| | - Nematollah Gheibi
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Research Institute for Prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran,Corresponding authors: Hossein Piri. Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, School of Medicine, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran; Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Research Institute for Prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran. ; Nematollah Gheibi. Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Research Institute for Prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran. Tel: +98-2813330534; Fax: +98-2813324970; ;
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Luo M, Yang W, Cartwright TN, Higgins JMG, Chen J. Simultaneous Measurement of Single-Cell Mechanics and Cell-to-Materials Adhesion Using Fluidic Force Microscopy. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2022; 38:620-628. [PMID: 34981921 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.1c01973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
The connection between cells and their substrate is essential for biological processes such as cell migration. Atomic force microscopy nanoindentation has often been adopted to measure single-cell mechanics. Very recently, fluidic force microscopy has been developed to enable rapid measurements of cell adhesion. However, simultaneous characterization of the cell-to-material adhesion and viscoelastic properties of the same cell is challenging. In this study, we present a new approach to simultaneously determine these properties for single cells, using fluidic force microscopy. For MCF-7 cells grown on tissue-culture-treated polystyrene surfaces, we found that the adhesive force and adhesion energy were correlated for each cell. Well-spread cells tended to have stronger adhesion, which may be due to the greater area of the contact between cellular adhesion receptors and the surface. By contrast, the viscoelastic properties of MCF-7 cells cultured on the same surface appeared to have little dependence on cell shape. This methodology provides an integrated approach to better understand the biophysics of multiple cell types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ma Luo
- School of Engineering, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE1 7RU, U.K
| | - Wenjian Yang
- School of Engineering, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE1 7RU, U.K
- Research Center for Intelligent Sensing Systems, Zhijiang Laboratory, Hangzhou 311100, China
| | - Tyrell N Cartwright
- Biosciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Framlington Place, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, U.K
| | - Jonathan M G Higgins
- Biosciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Framlington Place, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, U.K
| | - Jinju Chen
- School of Engineering, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE1 7RU, U.K
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Senigagliesi B, Bedolla DE, Birarda G, Zanetti M, Lazzarino M, Vaccari L, Parisse P, Casalis L. Subcellular elements responsive to the biomechanical activity of triple-negative breast cancer-derived small extracellular vesicles. Biomol Concepts 2022; 13:322-333. [PMID: 36482512 DOI: 10.1515/bmc-2022-0024] [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: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) stands out for its aggressive, fast spread, and highly metastatic behavior and for being unresponsive to the classical hormonal therapy. It is considered a disease with a poor prognosis and limited treatment options. Among the mechanisms that contribute to TNBC spreading, attention has been recently paid to small extracellular vesicles (sEVs), nano-sized vesicles that by transferring bioactive molecules to recipient cells play a crucial role in the intercellular communication among cancer, healthy cells, and tumor microenvironment. In particular, TNBC-derived sEVs have been shown to alter proliferation, metastasis, drug resistance, and biomechanical properties of target cells. To shed light on the molecular mechanisms involved in sEVs mediation of cell biomechanics, we investigated the effects of sEVs on the main subcellular players, i.e., cell membrane, cytoskeleton, and nuclear chromatin organization. Our results unveiled that TNBC-derived sEVs are able to promote the formation and elongation of cellular protrusions, soften the cell body, and induce chromatin decondensation in recipient cells. In particular, our data suggest that chromatin decondensation is the main cause of the global cell softening. The present study added new details and unveiled a novel mechanism of activity of the TNBC-derived sEVs, providing information for the efficient translation of sEVs to cancer theranostics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatrice Senigagliesi
- Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati, Trieste, Italy.,Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste S.C.p.A., Trieste, Italy
| | - Diana E Bedolla
- Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste S.C.p.A., Trieste, Italy.,Area Science Park, Padriciano 99, Trieste, Italy
| | | | - Michele Zanetti
- Istituto Officina dei Materiali Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, CNR-IOM, Trieste, Italy.,Department of Physics, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Marco Lazzarino
- Istituto Officina dei Materiali Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, CNR-IOM, Trieste, Italy
| | - Lisa Vaccari
- Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste S.C.p.A., Trieste, Italy
| | - Pietro Parisse
- Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste S.C.p.A., Trieste, Italy.,Istituto Officina dei Materiali Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, CNR-IOM, Trieste, Italy
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Runel G, Lopez-Ramirez N, Chlasta J, Masse I. Biomechanical Properties of Cancer Cells. Cells 2021; 10:cells10040887. [PMID: 33924659 PMCID: PMC8069788 DOI: 10.3390/cells10040887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Revised: 04/10/2021] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Since the crucial role of the microenvironment has been highlighted, many studies have been focused on the role of biomechanics in cancer cell growth and the invasion of the surrounding environment. Despite the search in recent years for molecular biomarkers to try to classify and stratify cancers, much effort needs to be made to take account of morphological and nanomechanical parameters that could provide supplementary information concerning tissue complexity adaptation during cancer development. The biomechanical properties of cancer cells and their surrounding extracellular matrix have actually been proposed as promising biomarkers for cancer diagnosis and prognosis. The present review first describes the main methods used to study the mechanical properties of cancer cells. Then, we address the nanomechanical description of cultured cancer cells and the crucial role of the cytoskeleton for biomechanics linked with cell morphology. Finally, we depict how studying interaction of tumor cells with their surrounding microenvironment is crucial to integrating biomechanical properties in our understanding of tumor growth and local invasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaël Runel
- Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon, CNRS-UMR5286, INSREM U1052, Université de Lyon, F-69008 Lyon, France; (G.R.); (N.L.-R.)
- BioMeca, F-69008 Lyon, France;
| | - Noémie Lopez-Ramirez
- Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon, CNRS-UMR5286, INSREM U1052, Université de Lyon, F-69008 Lyon, France; (G.R.); (N.L.-R.)
| | | | - Ingrid Masse
- Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon, CNRS-UMR5286, INSREM U1052, Université de Lyon, F-69008 Lyon, France; (G.R.); (N.L.-R.)
- Correspondence:
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