Directed invasion of cancer cell spheroids inside 3D collagen matrices oriented by microfluidic flow in experiment and simulation

PLoS One. 2022 Mar 1;17(3):e0264571. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0264571. eCollection 2022.

Abstract

Invasion is strongly influenced by the mechanical properties of the extracellular matrix. Here, we use microfluidics to align fibers of a collagen matrix and study the influence of fiber orientation on invasion from a cancer cell spheroid. The microfluidic setup allows for highly oriented collagen fibers of tangential and radial orientation with respect to the spheroid, which can be described by finite element simulations. In invasion experiments, we observe a strong bias of invasion towards radial as compared to tangential fiber orientation. Simulations of the invasive behavior with a Brownian diffusion model suggest complete blockage of migration perpendicularly to fibers allowing for migration exclusively along fibers. This slows invasion toward areas with tangentially oriented fibers down, but does not prevent it.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Collagen
  • Computer Simulation
  • Extracellular Matrix
  • Microfluidics* / methods
  • Neoplasms*
  • Spheroids, Cellular

Substances

  • Collagen

Grants and funding

Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Project ID 201269156 – SFB 1032, project B11, to H.E.), the Center for NanoScience Munich (to H.E. and C.W.), University of Graz (to H.E.) and the University of Augsburg (Medicine Department, Seed Funding, to C.W.) The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.