(175r) ­­­Collagen – Poly (Ethylene Glycol) Hydrogel Matrix Modulation for Cancer Self-Organization | AIChE

(175r) ­­­Collagen – Poly (Ethylene Glycol) Hydrogel Matrix Modulation for Cancer Self-Organization

Authors 

Sullivan, K. M. - Presenter, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Ito, J. D., University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Ballance, W., University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Kandel, M., University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Kim, B., University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Popescu, G., University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Kong, H., University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
Three-dimensional hydrogels are commonly used to mimic the in vivo environment in in vitro controlled conditions. Since there are problems with both in vivo tissue transplantation and ex vivo tissue studies, scientists have turned to culturing cells in purely in vitro platforms. This study will present a collagen – poly (ethylene glycol) extracellular matrix that mimics the in vivo cancer cell environment in which cells can self-organize and migrate. Making in vitro cultures more accurate to the natural cell environment increases experimental result fidelity as current methods of culturing cells do not accurately represent what happens in the tissue. Tuning the hydrogel elastic modulus to physiological ranges is one approach commonly used. By using a natural and synthetic blend of polymers, the malignancy and phenotype of hepatocarcinoma cells can be modulated and controlled. The degree of spheroid growth and cell migration was measured using gradient light interference microscopy (GLIM) and the functionality of the spheroids was tested using the urea detoxification assay. By incorporating non-crosslinked poly (ethylene glycol) to modulate the hydrogel’s modulus, other matrix properties such as the pore area and fiber diameter remained similar across tested conditions. This differs from other hydrogels as changing the modulus typically causes large changes in other physical properties. The results of this study will increase understanding about tuning hydrogel properties to mimic in vivo microenvironments and developing a physiologically relevant in vitro cancer model.

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