Mechanical forces from intercellular peptide self-assembly drive spheroid formation.

ABSTRACT: This work presents a general strategy for engineering cell spheroids with capillary-like structures using intercellular self-assembly of peptide nanofibers. These nanofibrous materials induce mechanical changes in the extracellular matrix (ECM), activate mechanotransduction pathways, and enhance cellular morphogenesis, resulting in dynamic 3D spheroids with improved cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions. By promoting the formation of capillary-like structures within tumor spheroids, we develop models that closely mimic human tissue physiology. Our results demonstrate that tumor spheroids with capillary-like structures display gene expression profiles that closely match those of patient-derived tumors, underscoring their relevance for cancer research. Furthermore, these spheroids, includin

SUBMITTER: Lu H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12916818 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature