In this work, three-dimensional (3D) cell scaffolds based on cryogels of different polymers were developed and subsequently used for the cultivation of prostate carcinoma cells. Moreover, different ...scaffolds on the basis of the silk protein, fibroin, were synthesized and also served as cultivation environment for established prostate cancer cells.
The physical and mechanical properties of the tumor microenvironment are crucial for the growth, differentiation and migration of cancer cells. However, such microenvironment is not found in the ...geometric constraints of 2D cell culture systems used in many cancer studies. Prostate cancer research, in particular, suffers from the lack of suitable in vitro models. Here a 3D superporous scaffold is described with thick pore walls in a mechanically stable and robust architecture to support prostate tumor growth. This scaffold is generated from the cryogelation of poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate to produce a defined elastic modulus for prostate tumor growth. Lymph node carcinoma of the prostate (LNCaP) cells show a linear growth over 21 d as multicellular tumor spheroids in such a scaffold with points of attachments to the walls of the scaffold. These LNCaP cells respond to the growth promoting effects of androgens and demonstrate a characteristic cytoplasmic‐nuclear translocation of the androgen receptor and androgen‐dependent gene expression. Compared to 2D cell culture, the expression or androgen response of prostate cancer specific genes is greatly enhanced in the LNCaP cells in this system. This scaffold is therefore a powerful tool for prostate cancer studies with unique advantages over 2D cell culture systems.
Superporous poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate cryogels mimicking the stiffness of malignant prostate tissues have been engineered for studies of prostate cancer cell growth and function. Cells grow in an anchorage‐dependent manner in this scaffold for three weeks and respond to androgen and antiandrogen treatment. Compared to 2D cell culture system, androgen‐dependent prostate target gene expression is highly regulated in this system.
In the present work, different biopolymer blend scaffolds based on the silk protein fibroin from Bombyx mori (BM) were prepared via freeze‐drying method. The chemical, structural, and mechanical ...properties of the three dimensional (3D) porous silk fibroin (SF) composite scaffolds of gelatin, collagen, and chitosan as well as SF from Antheraea pernyi (AP) and the recombinant spider silk protein spidroin (SSP1) have been systematically investigated, followed by cell culture experiments with epithelial prostate cancer cells (LNCaP) up to 14 days. Compared to the pure SF scaffold of BM, the blend scaffolds differ in porous morphology, elasticity, swelling behavior, and biochemical composition. The new composite scaffold with SSP1 showed an increased swelling degree and soft tissue like elastic properties. Whereas, in vitro cultivation of LNCaP cells demonstrated an increased growth behavior and spheroid formation within chitosan blended scaffolds based on its remarkable porosity, which supports nutrient supply matrix. Results of this study suggest that silk fibroin matrices are sufficient and certain SF composite scaffolds even improve 3D cell cultivation for prostate cancer research compared to matrices based on pure biomaterials or synthetic polymers.
3D glassy carbon structures with percolated macropores are obtained by pyrolysis of chemically synthesized cryogels featuring tunable porosity. These batch‐fabricated structures are used as scaffolds ...for culturing neural stem cells (NSCs) and are characterized by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). With the aid of MRI, the successful cultivation of NSCs on a glassy carbon surface and the precise 3D locations of these cell clusters within the opaque scaffold are demonstrated. MRI also yields pore morphology and porosity analyses, pre‐ and post‐pyrolysis. This integrated approach yields a complete 3D dataset of the NSC network, which enables the visual inspection of the morphological details of individual cell clusters without disturbing them or destroying the scaffold. Reported experimental methodology is expected to have an impact on studies designed to understand the mechanism of neurodegenerative disease (ND) development, and can serve as a protocol for the culture of various other types of cells that display compatibility with glassy carbon surfaces.
Neural stem cells cultured on 3D glassy carbon scaffolds are noninvasively characterized by high‐resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Scaffolds are obtained from pyrolysis of porous cryogels, opening the potential for tailoring the scaffold morphology as dictated by the cellular microenvironment. MRI data are further processed to yield spectacular videos and reconstructed images where individual cell clusters can be identified.
On page 3985, F. J. Gruhl, A. C. B. Cato engineer superporous poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate cryogels that mimic the stiffness of malignant prostate tissues for studies of prostate cancer cell ...growth and function. Cells grow in an anchorage‐dependent manner in this scaffold for three weeks and respond to androgen and antiandrogen treatment. Compared to 2D cell culture system, androgen‐dependent prostate target gene expression is highly regulated in this system.
Abstract
In the present work, different biopolymer blend scaffolds based on the silk protein fibroin from
Bombyx mori
(BM) were prepared via freeze‐drying method. The chemical, structural, and ...mechanical properties of the three dimensional (3D) porous silk fibroin (SF) composite scaffolds of gelatin, collagen, and chitosan as well as SF from
Antheraea pernyi
(AP) and the recombinant spider silk protein spidroin (SSP1) have been systematically investigated, followed by cell culture experiments with epithelial prostate cancer cells (LNCaP) up to 14 days. Compared to the pure SF scaffold of BM, the blend scaffolds differ in porous morphology, elasticity, swelling behavior, and biochemical composition. The new composite scaffold with SSP1 showed an increased swelling degree and soft tissue like elastic properties. Whereas, in vitro cultivation of LNCaP cells demonstrated an increased growth behavior and spheroid formation within chitosan blended scaffolds based on its remarkable porosity, which supports nutrient supply matrix. Results of this study suggest that silk fibroin matrices are sufficient and certain SF composite scaffolds even improve 3D cell cultivation for prostate cancer research compared to matrices based on pure biomaterials or synthetic polymers.
L'étoile Lucifer / Anne-Marie de Backer Backer, Anne-Marie de (1908-1987). Auteur du texte; Backer, Anne-Marie de (1908-1987). Author of the text
1967
Web Resource
Macropinocytosis is defined as an actin-dependent but coat- and dynamin-independent endocytic uptake process, which generates large intracellular vesicles (macropinosomes) containing a non-selective ...sampling of extracellular fluid. Macropinocytosis provides an important mechanism of immune surveillance by dendritic cells and macrophages, but also serves as an essential nutrient uptake pathway for unicellular organisms and tumor cells. This review examines the cell biological mechanisms that drive macropinocytosis, as well as the complex signaling pathways - GTPases, lipid and protein kinases and phosphatases, and actin regulatory proteins - that regulate macropinosome formation, internalization, and disposition.