Mechanical and Morphological Analysis of Cancer Cells on Nanostructured Substrates

Langmuir. 2016 Mar 22;32(11):2718-23. doi: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.5b04469. Epub 2016 Mar 7.

Abstract

Cancer metastasis is a major cause of cancer-induced deaths in patients. Mimicking nanostructures of an extracellular matrix surrounding cancer cells can provide useful clues for metastasis. This paper compares the morphology, proliferation, spreading, and stiffness of highly aggressive glioblastoma multiforme cancer cells and normal fibroblast cells seeded on a variety of ordered polymeric nanostructures (nanopillars and nanochannels). Both cell lines survive and proliferate on the nanostructured surface and show more similarity on nanostructured surfaces than on flat surfaces. Although both show similar stiffness on the nanochannel surface, glioblastomas are softer, spread to a larger area, and elongate less than fibroblasts. The nanostructured surfaces are useful for in vitro model of an extracellular matrix to study the cancer cell migratory phenotype.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Acrylic Resins
  • Actins / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Movement
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Cell Survival
  • Dimethylformamide
  • Ethidium / analogs & derivatives
  • Extracellular Matrix / ultrastructure
  • Fibroblasts / cytology*
  • Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate
  • Fluoresceins
  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • Glioblastoma / pathology*
  • Humans
  • Indoles
  • Mice
  • NIH 3T3 Cells
  • Nanostructures

Substances

  • Acrylic Resins
  • Actins
  • Fluoresceins
  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • Indoles
  • calcein AM
  • polyacrylonitrile
  • DAPI
  • ethidium homodimer
  • Dimethylformamide
  • Ethidium
  • Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate