Hypoxia-inducing cryogels uncover key cancer-immune cell interactions in an oxygen-deficient tumor microenvironment.

ABSTRACT: Hypoxia is a major factor shaping the immune landscape, and several cancer models have been developed to emulate hypoxic tumors. However, to date, they still have several limitations, such as the lack of reproducibility, inadequate biophysical cues, limited immune cell infiltration, and poor oxygen (O₂) control, leading to non-pathophysiological tumor responses. Therefore, it is essential to develop better cancer models that mimic key features of the tumor extracellular matrix and recreate tumor-associated hypoxia while allowing cell infiltration and cancer-immune cell interactions. Herein, hypoxia-inducing cryogels (HICs) have been engineered using hyaluronic acid (HA) to fabricate three-dimensional microtissues and model a hypoxic tumor microenvironment. Specifically, tumor ce

SUBMITTER: Colombani T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10432785 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature