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Atkins D, Rosas JM, Månsson LK, Shahverdi N, Dey SS, Pitenis AA. Survival-Associated Cellular Response Maintained in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC) Switched Between Soft and Stiff 3D Microgel Culture. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2024; 10:2177-2187. [PMID: 38466617 PMCID: PMC11005012 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.3c01079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) accounts for about 90% of all pancreatic cancer cases. Five-year survival rates have remained below 12% since the 1970s, in part due to the difficulty in detection prior to metastasis (migration and invasion into neighboring organs and glands). Mechanical memory is a concept that has emerged over the past decade that may provide a path toward understanding how invading PDAC cells "remember" the mechanical properties of their diseased ("stiff", elastic modulus, E ≈ 10 kPa) microenvironment even while invading a healthy ("soft", E ≈ 1 kPa) microenvironment. Here, we investigated the role of mechanical priming by culturing a dilute suspension of PDAC (FG) cells within a 3D, rheologically tunable microgel platform from hydrogels with tunable mechanical properties. We conducted a suite of acute (short-term) priming studies where we cultured PDAC cells in either a soft (E ≈ 1 kPa) or stiff (E ≈ 10 kPa) environment for 6 h, then removed and placed them into a new soft or stiff 3D environment for another 18 h. Following these steps, we conducted RNA-seq analyses to quantify gene expression. Initial priming in the 3D culture showed persistent gene expression for the duration of the study, regardless of the subsequent environments (stiff or soft). Stiff 3D culture was associated with the downregulation of tumor suppressors (LATS1, BCAR3, CDKN2C), as well as the upregulation of cancer-associated genes (RAC3). Immunofluorescence staining (BCAR3, RAC3) further supported the persistence of this cellular response, with BCAR3 upregulated in soft culture and RAC3 upregulated in stiff-primed culture. Stiff-primed genes were stratified against patient data found in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Upregulated genes in stiff-primed 3D culture were associated with decreased survival in patient data, suggesting a link between patient survival and mechanical priming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dixon
J. Atkins
- Department
of Biomolecular Science and Engineering, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California 93106, United States
| | - Jonah M. Rosas
- Department
of Biomolecular Science and Engineering, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California 93106, United States
| | - Lisa K. Månsson
- Materials
Department, University of California Santa
Barbara, Santa
Barbara, California 93106, United States
| | - Nima Shahverdi
- Molecular,
Cellular, and Developmental Biology Department, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California 93106, United States
| | - Siddharth S. Dey
- Department
of Chemical Engineering, University
of California Santa Barbara, Santa
Barbara, California 93106, United States
- Department
of Bioengineering, University of California
Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California 93106, United States
| | - Angela A. Pitenis
- Materials
Department, University of California Santa
Barbara, Santa
Barbara, California 93106, United States
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Zhao C, Pan B, Wang T, Yang H, Vance D, Li X, Zhao H, Hu X, Yang T, Chen Z, Hao L, Liu T, Wang Y. Advances in NIR-Responsive Natural Macromolecular Hydrogel Assembly Drugs for Cancer Treatment. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:2729. [PMID: 38140070 PMCID: PMC10747500 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15122729] [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: 10/20/2023] [Revised: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer is a serious disease with an abnormal proliferation of organ tissues; it is characterized by malignant infiltration and growth that affects human life. Traditional cancer therapies such as resection, radiotherapy and chemotherapy have a low cure rate and often cause irreversible damage to the body. In recent years, since the traditional treatment of cancer is still very far from perfect, researchers have begun to focus on non-invasive near-infrared (NIR)-responsive natural macromolecular hydrogel assembly drugs (NIR-NMHADs). Due to their unique biocompatibility and extremely high drug encapsulation, coupling with the spatiotemporal controllability of NIR, synergistic photothermal therapy (PTT), photothermal therapy (PDT), chemotherapy (CT) and immunotherapy (IT) has created excellent effects and good prospects for cancer treatment. In addition, some emerging bioengineering technologies can also improve the effectiveness of drug delivery systems. This review will discuss the properties of NIR light, the NIR-functional hydrogels commonly used in current research, the cancer therapy corresponding to the materials encapsulated in them and the bioengineering technology that can assist drug delivery systems. The review provides a constructive reference for the optimization of NIR-NMHAD experimental ideas and its application to human body.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenyu Zhao
- China Medical University—The Queen’s University Belfast Joint College, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, China; (C.Z.); (B.P.); (D.V.); (T.Y.); (Z.C.)
- Department of Chemistry, School of Forensic Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, China;
- Liaoning Province Key Laboratory of Forensic Bio-Evidence Sciences, Shenyang 110122, China
- Center of Forensic Investigation, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, China
| | - Boyue Pan
- China Medical University—The Queen’s University Belfast Joint College, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, China; (C.Z.); (B.P.); (D.V.); (T.Y.); (Z.C.)
- Department of Chemistry, School of Forensic Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, China;
- Liaoning Province Key Laboratory of Forensic Bio-Evidence Sciences, Shenyang 110122, China
- Center of Forensic Investigation, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, China
| | - Tianlin Wang
- Department of Biophysics, School of Intelligent Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, China; (T.W.); (H.Y.)
| | - Huazhe Yang
- Department of Biophysics, School of Intelligent Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, China; (T.W.); (H.Y.)
| | - David Vance
- China Medical University—The Queen’s University Belfast Joint College, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, China; (C.Z.); (B.P.); (D.V.); (T.Y.); (Z.C.)
- School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast BT7 1NN, UK
| | - Xiaojia Li
- Teaching Center for Basic Medical Experiment, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, China; (X.L.); (H.Z.)
| | - Haiyang Zhao
- Teaching Center for Basic Medical Experiment, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, China; (X.L.); (H.Z.)
| | - Xinru Hu
- The 1st Clinical Department, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, China;
| | - Tianchang Yang
- China Medical University—The Queen’s University Belfast Joint College, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, China; (C.Z.); (B.P.); (D.V.); (T.Y.); (Z.C.)
| | - Zihao Chen
- China Medical University—The Queen’s University Belfast Joint College, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, China; (C.Z.); (B.P.); (D.V.); (T.Y.); (Z.C.)
| | - Liang Hao
- Department of Chemistry, School of Forensic Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, China;
- Liaoning Province Key Laboratory of Forensic Bio-Evidence Sciences, Shenyang 110122, China
- Center of Forensic Investigation, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, China
| | - Ting Liu
- China Medical University—The Queen’s University Belfast Joint College, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, China; (C.Z.); (B.P.); (D.V.); (T.Y.); (Z.C.)
| | - Yang Wang
- China Medical University—The Queen’s University Belfast Joint College, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, China; (C.Z.); (B.P.); (D.V.); (T.Y.); (Z.C.)
- Department of Chemistry, School of Forensic Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, China;
- Liaoning Province Key Laboratory of Forensic Bio-Evidence Sciences, Shenyang 110122, China
- Center of Forensic Investigation, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, China
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Ramezani M, Ripin ZM, Jiang CP, Pasang T. Superlubricity of Materials: Progress, Potential, and Challenges. MATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 16:5145. [PMID: 37512418 PMCID: PMC10386490 DOI: 10.3390/ma16145145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Revised: 07/16/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
This review paper provides a comprehensive overview of the phenomenon of superlubricity, its associated material characteristics, and its potential applications. Superlubricity, the state of near-zero friction between two surfaces, presents significant potential for enhancing the efficiency of mechanical systems, thus attracting significant attention in both academic and industrial realms. We explore the atomic/molecular structures that enable this characteristic and discuss notable superlubric materials, including graphite, diamond-like carbon, and advanced engineering composites. The review further elaborates on the methods of achieving superlubricity at both nanoscale and macroscale levels, highlighting the influence of environmental conditions. We also discuss superlubricity's applications, ranging from mechanical systems to energy conservation and biomedical applications. Despite the promising potential, the realization of superlubricity is laden with challenges. We address these technical difficulties, specifically those related to achieving and maintaining superlubricity, and the issues encountered in scaling up for industrial applications. The paper also underscores the sustainability concerns associated with superlubricity and proposes potential solutions. We conclude with a discussion of the possible future research directions and the impact of technological innovations in this field. This review thus provides a valuable resource for researchers and industry professionals engaged in the development and application of superlubric materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maziar Ramezani
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
| | - Zaidi Mohd Ripin
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Nibong Tebal 14300, Malaysia
| | - Cho-Pei Jiang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Taipei University of Technology, Taipei 10608, Taiwan
| | - Tim Pasang
- Department of Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering Technology, Oregon Institute of Technology, Klamath Falls, OR 97601, USA
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Vinod A, Tadmor R, Katoshevski D, Gutmark EJ. Gels That Serve as Mucus Simulants: A Review. Gels 2023; 9:555. [PMID: 37504435 PMCID: PMC10379079 DOI: 10.3390/gels9070555] [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: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/25/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Mucus is a critical part of the human body's immune system that traps and carries away various particulates such as anthropogenic pollutants, pollen, viruses, etc. Various synthetic hydrogels have been developed to mimic mucus, using different polymers as their backbones. Common to these simulants is a three-dimensional gel network that is physically crosslinked and is capable of loosely entrapping water within. Two of the challenges in mimicking mucus using synthetic hydrogels include the need to mimic the rheological properties of the mucus and its ability to capture particulates (its adhesion mechanism). In this paper, we review the existing mucus simulants and discuss their rheological, adhesive, and tribological properties. We show that most, but not all, simulants indeed mimic the rheological properties of the mucus; like mucus, most hydrogel mucus simulants reviewed here demonstrated a higher storage modulus than its loss modulus, and their values are in the range of that found in mucus. However, only one mimics the adhesive properties of the mucus (which are critical for the ability of mucus to capture particulates), Polyvinyl alcohol-Borax hydrogel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Appu Vinod
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ben Gurion University, Beer Sheva 84105, Israel
| | - Rafael Tadmor
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ben Gurion University, Beer Sheva 84105, Israel
| | - David Katoshevski
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Ben Gurion University, Beer Sheva 84105, Israel
| | - Ephraim J Gutmark
- Department of Aerospace Engineering & Engineering Mechanics, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221, USA
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