Finite Element Evaluation of the Electric Field Distribution in a Non-Homogeneous Environment.

Finite element analysis is used in this study to investigate the effect of media inhomogeneity on the electric field distribution in a sample composed of cells and their extracellular matrix. The sample is supposed to be subjected to very high pulsed electric field. Numerically computed electric field distribution and transmembrane potential at the cell membrane in electroporation conditions are considered in order to study cell behavior at different degrees of inhomogeneity.

Breast Cancer Cell Cultures on Electrospun Poly(ε-Caprolactone) as a Potential Tool for Preclinical Studies on Anticancer Treatments.

During anticancer drug development, most compounds selected by in vitro screening are ineffective in in vivo studies and clinical trials due to the unreliability of two-dimensional (2D) in vitro cultures that are unable to mimic the cancer microenvironment. Herein, HCC1954 cell cultures on electrospun polycaprolactone (PCL) were characterized by morphological analysis, cell viability assays, histochemical staining, immunofluorescence, and RT-PCR. Our data showed that electrospun PCL allows the in vitro formation of cultures characterized by mucopolysaccharide production and increased cancer stem cell population.

Breast cancer cells grown on hyaluronic acid-based scaffolds as 3D in vitro model for electroporation.

Nowadays, electroporation (EP) represents a promising method for the intracellular delivery of anticancer drugs. To setting up the process, the EP efficiency is usually evaluated by using cell suspension and adherent cell cultures that are not representative of the in vivo conditions. Indeed, cells are surrounded by extracellular matrix (ECM) whose composition and physical characteristics are different for each tissue.

The Efficiency of Gene Electrotransfer in Breast-Cancer Cell Lines Cultured on a Novel Collagen-Free 3D Scaffold.

Gene Electro-Transfer (GET) is a powerful method of DNA delivery with great potential for medical applications. Although GET has been extensively studied in vitro and in vivo, the optimal parameters remain controversial. 2D cell cultures have been widely used to investigate GET protocols, but have intrinsic limitations, whereas 3D cultures may represent a more reliable model thanks to the capacity of reproducing the tumor architecture.