Brain Mimetic Materials for Cancer Cell Migration Studies

该项目的研究目标是建立新的脑模拟物和迁移模型，以探索细胞外基质（ECM）对胶质瘤细胞迁移的影响。模拟物由水凝胶、溶胀的、交联的但不溶的聚合物网络组成，所述聚合物网络由透明质酸和蛋白聚糖（例如，Brevican和Versican）。模拟材料将用于构建体外细胞迁移的两个三维模型：侵入测定，其检查细胞从溶液迁移到3D脑组织模拟物中;以及界面测定，其检查细胞从一种组成的3D脑模拟物迁移到不同组成的脑模拟物中。这些模型与目前研究肿瘤细胞迁移的方法不同，因为它们（a）由脑中天然存在的材料组成，（B）是三维的，更接近地模拟体内条件。可验证的包括脑组织模拟材料、细胞迁移模型、对两种类型的脑组织模拟材料（即，“癌症”大脑与添加brevican，“正常”大脑与添加versican），工程专业的学生教育在研究生和本科生水平，以及走廊推车展览基于这项研究的COSI，当地的科学博物馆。这项研究将提供新的工具，有可能改变对胶质瘤癌细胞迁移的理解。神经胶质瘤是大脑中支持细胞的肿瘤，是最致命的癌症之一，从诊断时起平均存活10-30个月，每年影响22，500人。它们特别难以治疗，因为它们具有高度侵袭性，渗透到整个大脑。除了临床效益外，这项工作还将加强研究基础设施，在工程和临床部门之间建立新的合作。研究成果将通过期刊出版物，会议演示，并通过与地区科学博物馆的互动向公众传播。研究生和本科生将参与研究，研究结果也将通过课堂材料传播。

This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5)0854015WinterThis research objective of this project is to create new brain mimetics and migration models to explore the effect of the extracellular matrix (ECM) on glioma cell migration. The mimetics consist of hydrogels; swollen, cross-linked, yet insoluble, polymer networks, composed of hyaluronic acid and proteoglycans (e.g., brevican and versican). Mimetic materials will be used to construct two three-dimensional models of in vitro cell migration: an invasion assay, which examines migration of cells from solution into a 3D brain tissue mimetic; and in interface assay, which examines migration of cells from a 3D brain mimetic of one composition into a brain mimetic of differing composition. These models differ from current methods of investigating tumor cell migration because they are (a) composed of materials that naturally occur in the brain, (b) are three-dimensional, more closely mimicking in vivo conditions. Deliverables include brain tissue mimetic materials, models of cell migration, preliminary analysis of cell response to two types of brain tissue mimetic materials (i.e., 'cancer' brain with added brevican, 'normal' brain with added versican), engineering student education at the graduate and undergraduate level, and a hallway cart exhibit based on this research for COSI, a local science museum.The research will provide new tools with the potential to transform understanding of glioma cancer cell migration. Gliomas, tumors of supporting cells in the brain, are among the most deadly cancers, with an average survival of 10-30 months from time of diagnosis, and affect 22,500 individuals/year. They are particularly difficult to treat because they are highly aggressive, infiltrating throughout the brain. In addition to clinical benefits, this work will enhance research infrastructure, creating new collaborations between engineering and clinical departments. Research results will be disseminated through journal publications, conference presentations, and also, to the general public, through interactions with an area science museum. Graduate and undergraduate students will participate in the research, and results will be disseminated through classroom materials as well.