Reticulated hyaluronan hydrogels: a model for examining cancer cell invasion in 3D

Abstract The extracellular polysaccharide hyaluronan (HA) controls cell migration, differentiation and proliferation, and contributes to the invasiveness of human cancers. The roles of HA cell surface receptors and hyaluronidases (HAses) in this process are still controversial. In order to investigate their involvement in cancer pathogenesis, we developed a reticulated HA Read more…

ABCA1/ABCB1 Ratio Determines Chemo- and Immune-Sensitivity in Human Osteosarcoma

Abstract The ATP Binding Cassette transporter B1 (ABCB1) induces chemoresistance in osteosarcoma, because it effluxes doxorubicin, reducing the intracellular accumulation, toxicity, and immunogenic cell death induced by the drug. The ATP Binding Cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) effluxes isopentenyl pyrophosphate (IPP), a strong activator of anti-tumor Vγ9Vδ2 T-cells. Recruiting this population Read more…

Direct Effect of Bevacizumab on Glioblastoma Cell Lines In Vitro

Abstract  Bevacizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody directed against the pro-angiogenic factor vascular and endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) used in the treatment of glioblastomas. Although most patients respond initially to this treatment, studies have shown that glioblastomas eventually recur. Several non-mutually exclusive theories based on the anti-angiogenic effect of bevacizumab Read more…

Three Dimensional Tumor Engineering by Co-Culture of Breast Tumor and Endothelial Cells Using a Hyaluronic Acid Hydrogel Model

Abstract Besides tumor cells, the microenvironment harbors a variety of host-derived cells. To date, the most successful tissue engineering approaches have employed methods that recapitulate the composition, architecture and/or chemical presentation of the native microenvironment. Thus tumor engineering in biomimetic three dimensional conditions represents a dynamic cooperatively between different cell Read more…

Survival of cord blood haematopoietic stem cells in a hyaluronan hydrogel for ex vivo biomimicry

Abstract Haematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and haematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs) grow in a specified niche in close association with the microenvironment, the so‐called ‘haematopoietic niche’. Scaffolds have been introduced to overcome the liquid culture limitations, mimicking the presence of the extracellular matrix (ECM). In the present study the hyaluronic acid Read more…

Hyaluronan hydrogel: An appropriate three-dimensional model for evaluation of anticancer drug sensitivity

Abstract The extracellular polysaccharide hyaluronan (HA) controls cell migration, differentiation and proliferation, and contributes to the invasiveness of human cancers. In order to investigate the sensitivity of cancer cells to antimitotic agents, we developed a cross-linked HA hydrogel, a three-dimensional matrix in which cells can invade and grow. We have Read more…

Hyaluronic Acid a versatile ECM compound for 3D matrix application

Hyaluronan or Hyaluronic Acid (HA) is a ubiquitous constituent of extracellular matrix (ECM) and, because of its excellent intrinsic biocompatibility and chemical or enzymatic modification versatility, has been widely employed in a multitude of biomedical of biotechnological applications. In this interesting article from Serban et al. they will investigate the approaches Read more…

Cell hyaluronan

Breakdown of the extracellular matrix (ECM) promotes increased cell migration via upregulation of glycolysis

Cells have diverse circuitry to sense and respond to extrinsic metabolic signals. Extracellular matrix (ECM) reorganization which is central to both tissue expansion and regeneration. ECM remodeling is also a signature of pathological processes, such as tumorigenesis. In this study from Sullivan et al., they show that increased migration in Read more…

iPSC-derived brown-like adipocytes progenitors as a new tool for drug discovery?

Interesting paper from Christian Dani team about the potential of Brown and brown-like adipocytes (BAs) proginitors derived from hiPSCs to dissipate energy stored and the promising potential to treat obesity and metabolic disorder. In this publication, they describe the capacity of human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) to generate BAPs able Read more…

A biomimetic hydrogel functionalized with adipose ECM components as a microenvironment for the 3D culture of human and murine adipocytes

Abstract The lack of relevant in vitro models for adipose tissue makes necessary the development of a more physiological environment providing spatial and chemical cues for the effective maturation of adipocytes. We developed a biofunctionalized hydrogel with components of adipose extracellular matrix: collagen I, collagen VI, and the cell binding Read more…

Evaluation by quantitative image analysis of anticancer drug activity on multicellular spheroids grown in 3D matrices

Abstract Pharmacological evaluation of anticancer drugs using 3D in vitro models provides invaluable information for predicting in vivo activity. Artificial matrices are currently available that scale up and increase the power of such 3D models. The aim of the present study was to propose an efficient and robust imaging and Read more…