Preparation and characterization of biopolymer nanogels and growth of
cancer cells in their presence
- Amalia Aggeli,
- Niki Karipidou,
- Maria-Eleni Naoum,
- Zoi Bolla,
- Eleftherios Rizos,
- Kalliopi Domvri,
- Konstantinos Porpodis,
- Nikolaos Michailidis
Maria-Eleni Naoum
Aristoteleio Panepistemio Thessalonikes
Author ProfileEleftherios Rizos
Aristoteleio Panepistemio Thessalonikes
Author ProfileKonstantinos Porpodis
Aristoteleio Panepistemio Thessalonikes
Author ProfileNikolaos Michailidis
Aristoteleio Panepistemio Thessalonikes
Author ProfileAbstract
The effect of biomechanical signals induced by a non-toxic and
biocompatible gel on Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer cells is investigated in
this preliminary study. Gelatin type A, chitosan, and alginate were
compared in a quantitative manner by means of rheology, in order to
assess the most stable and easily prepared gel in physiological solution
conditions for 3D cancer cell culturing. Crucial factors that influence
the fabrication of the gel were examined and quantified, including
gelation kinetics, reactants' contact time, and temperature, leading to
the development of an optimal research protocol. Alginate was found to
lead to the most suitable physiological gels and its effect on the
cancer cells was examined using flow cytometry. The results implied that
alginate gels interfered with the cancerous cells' growth rate, as the
live cells' percentage was far lower compared to the reference cell
culture. Thus, alginate is a promising material for biomedical
engineering applications concerning 3D culturing of cancer cells and its
further research and optimization are strongly suggested.