Engineered basement membrane mimetic hydrogels to study mammary epithelial morphogenesis and invasion.

ABSTRACT: Reconstituted basement membrane (rBM) products like Matrigel are widely used in 3D culture models of epithelial tissues and cancer. However, their utility is hindered by key limitations, including batch variability, xenogenic contaminants, and a lack of tunability. To address these challenges, we engineered a 3D basement membrane (eBM) matrix by conjugating defined extracellular matrix (ECM) adhesion peptides (IKVAV, YIGSR, RGD) to an alginate hydrogel network with precisely tunable stiffness and viscoelasticity. We optimized the mechanical and biochemical properties of the engineered basement membranes (eBMs) to support mammary acinar morphogenesis in MCF10A cells, similar to rBM. We found that IKVAV-modified, fast-relaxing (τ1_/2 = 30-150 s), and soft (E = 200 Pa) eBMs best pro

SUBMITTER: Baude JA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11908212 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature