THREE DIMENSIONAL MATRIX FOR CANCER STEM CELLS

摘要

Synthetic inert 3D gel culture systems are described that can be finely tuned to exhibit desired and predetermined physical, chemical, mechanical, and biochemical properties. The culture system can be utilized to study the effect of microenvironmental factors on cancer cell response, and in particular on cancer stem cell (CSC) response. Cancer cells can be encapsulated in a crosslinked gel system having a narrow range of predetermined gel stiffness. One or more biochemical factors including peptides that can affect the growth, development, and/or proliferation of CSCs can be incorporated in the system to examine the effects of the factor(s) on the encapsulated cells with regard to growth, proliferation, size, etc.

主权项

1. A method of forming a three dimensional hydrogel matrix for supporting a cancer cell, the method comprising:
combining an inert synthetic polymer with a crosslinking agent to form a precursor solution; crosslinking the inert synthetic polymer via the crosslinking agent to form the three dimensional hydrogel matrix, wherein the concentration of the crosslinking agent and/or the concentration of the inert synthetic polymer is predetermined in the precursor solution such that the three dimensional hydrogel matrix has a predetermined elastic modulus; and conjugating a peptide to the matrix, the peptide affecting the growth, development, and/or proliferation of a cancer stem cell.