Breast cancer cells mechanosensing in engineered matrices: Correlation with aggressive phenotype.

The pathogenesis of cancer is often driven by the modulation of the tumor microenvironment. Recent reports have highlighted that the progressive stiffening of tumor matrix is crucial for malignant transformation. Though extensive work has been done analyzing the mechanotransductive signals involved in tumor progression, it is still not clear whether the stiffness induced changes in cancer cell behavior is conserved across the invasive/aggressive phenotype of cells.

On-chip porous microgel generation for microfluidic enhanced VEGF detection.

Advances in medical diagnostics and personalized therapy require sensitive and rapid measurement of minute amounts of proteins from patients. Standard ELISA is difficult to prepare and involves lengthy protocols. Here we report a novel method using capture antibody immobilized porous poly (ethylene) glycol diacrylate (PEGDA) hydrogel microspheres to enable high sensitivity VEGF detection in arrayed microfluidics.

Sensitive, quantitative, and high-throughput detection of angiogenic markers using shape-coded hydrogel microparticles.

Elevated serum concentrations of angiogenic markers including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), fibroblast growth factor (FGF), and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) have been correlated with various clinical disorders including cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, and liver fibrosis. In addition, the correlation between the serum concentrations of these factors, clinical diagnosis, prognosis, and response to therapeutic agents is significant. Thereby suggesting high-throughput detection of serum levels of angiogenic markers has important implications in early detection of different clinical disorders as well as for subsequent therapy monitoring.

Integrated effects of matrix mechanics and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) on capillary sprouting.

Angiogenesis is the growth of new capillaries from existing vasculature. Vascular network formation is known to be regulated by the biophysical and biochemical signals emanating from the microenvironment. However, it is not clear how endothelial cells integrate these signals to drive the capillary morphogenesis.

Sensitive quantification of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) using porosity induced hydrogel microspheres.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays a crucial role in vasculogenesis (blood vessel formation) and angiogenesis (capillary formation from a pre-existing blood vessel). Dysregulation of VEGF has been associated with several diseases including cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, and psoriasis. As a result, serum level of VEGF has important implications as biomarker for different clinical disorders as well as for subsequent therapy monitoring.