Cancer Stem Cell Microenvironment Models with Biomaterial Scaffolds In Vitro

Abstract

Defined by its potential for self-renewal, differentiation and tumorigenicity, cancer stem cells (CSCs) are considered responsible for drug resistance and relapse. To understand the behavior of CSC, the effects of the microenvironment in each tissue are a matter of great concerns for scientists in cancer biology. However, there are many complicated obstacles in the mimicking the microenvironment of CSCs even with current advanced technology. In this context, novel biomaterials have widely been assessed as in vitro platforms for their ability to mimic cancer microenvironment. These efforts should be successful to identify and characterize various CSCs specific in each type of cancer. Therefore, extracellular matrix scaffolds made of biomaterial will modulate the interactions and facilitate the investigation of CSC associated with biological phenomena simplifying the complexity of the microenvironment. In this review, we summarize latest advances in biomaterial scaffolds, which are exploited to mimic CSC microenvironment, and their chemical and biological requirements with discussion. The discussion includes the possible effects on both cells in tumors and microenvironment to propose what the critical factors are in controlling the CSC microenvironment focusing the future investigation. Our insights on their availability in drug screening will also follow the discussion.

Applications of Radiomics and Radiogenomics in High-Grade Gliomas in the Era of Precision Medicine

“…From left to right: ( 1 ) image acquisition; ( 2 ) general image pre-processing including image re-orientation, co-registration of the images, and alignment of images with a reference atlas; ( 3 ) tumor detection and segmentation; ( 4 ) skull stripping and artifact removal (bias field, noise, etc. ); ( 5 ) feature extraction, such as features of histogram, texture, wavelets, location, morphology, and hemodynamics; ( 6 ) predictive modeling using classification or regression; ( 7 ) prediction of endpoints, such as patient’s survival [ 34 , 35 ], genomics [ 11 , 36 , 37 ], response to therapy [ 38 ], site of future recurrence [ 39 ], or tumor micro-environment [ 40 ] (Some graphics are from Servier Medical Art: smart.servier.com (access date: 14 January 2021) and [ 41 ]).…”

Diphenyleneiodonium efficiently inhibits the characteristics of a cancer stem cell model derived from induced pluripotent stem cells

“…Currently, the 3D culture condition is considered more natural compared to the 2D condition, which means that the 3D condition could be the more practical way of assessment. 16,17 In this study, 2D culture condition was exploited for the assays on cell growth, cell cycle, and scratch, whereas the IC 50 values of DPI on miPS-Huh7cmP cells were ranging between 100 and 1000 nM. From these results, miPS-Huh7cmP cells appeared rather insensitive to DPI.…”

“…This heterogeneity could be reconstituted either in the monolayer of the 2D culture condition or extracellular matrix‐assisted and/or 3D culture condition. Currently, the 3D culture condition is considered more natural compared to the 2D condition, which means that the 3D condition could be the more practical way of assessment 16,17 . In this study, 2D culture condition was exploited for the assays on cell growth, cell cycle, and scratch, whereas the IC 50 values of DPI on miPS‐Huh7cmP cells were ranging between 100 and 1000 nM.…”

Fabrication and Characterization of a Three-Dimensional Fibrin Gel Model to Evaluate Anti-Proliferative Effects of Astragalus hamosus Plant Extract on Breast Cancer Cells

“…Threedimensional culture system using fibrin gel is a good method for analysis of drug effects on tumor cells (Bayat et al, 2016). Biomaterials sometimes mimic tumor microenvironment allowing 3D space to investigate the behavior, response and progression of cancer cells (Hassan et al, 2021). A. hamosus is commonly used herb in traditional medicine.…”