Design of synthetic extracellular matrices for probing breast cancer cell growth using robust cyctocompatible nucleophilic thiol-yne addition chemistry.

ABSTRACT: Controlled, three-dimensional (3D) cell culture systems are of growing interest for both tissue regeneration and disease, including cancer, enabling hypothesis testing about the effects of microenvironment cues on a variety of cellular processes, including aspects of disease progression. In this work, we encapsulate and culture in three dimensions different cancer cell lines in a synthetic extracellular matrix (ECM), using mild and efficient chemistry. Specifically, harnessing the nucleophilic addition of thiols to activated alkynes, we have created hydrogel-based materials with multifunctional poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and select biomimetic peptides. These materials have definable, controlled mechanical properties (G' = 4-10 kPa) and enable facile incorporation of pendant peptides for c

SUBMITTER: Macdougall LJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6699181 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature