3D two-photon polymerization of smart cell gelatin - collagen matrixes with incorporated ruthenium complexes for the monitoring of local oxygen tensions.

The extra cellular matrix plays a major role in the biomechanical properties of tissues that impact cell behavior and fate. It is therefore crucial to mimic these complex cell-matrix interactions in 3D cell cultures. Here, two-photon polymerization is applied to produce gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) - collagen matrixes that further enable local pO measurement, when ruthenium complexes are used as photo-activators. The fluorescence intensity of these complexes has a direct and inverse relationship with the local pO. The 3D structures reached their maximum size in cell culture conditions after 3H with a swelling factor of ~1.5. Their shape and the ruthenium fluorescence intensity of the alveoli walls stayed constant for at least 2 weeks in the absence of cells. They were used in time series to monitor the local pO adjacent to cancer cells during their division, migration and the formation of a tumor tissue mass. At the presence of these cell activities that consume O, a significant ~3-fold increase of the ruthenium fluorescence intensity in the alveoli walls was observed. This study demonstrates that online monitoring of the local pO is possible. The ruthenium complexes provide the bio-optical sensors that are useful for further analysis of cancer and healthy cell energy metabolism in a 3D matrix that better mimics in vivo conditions and migration paths. Unraveling the cancer cell metabolic adaptations in a changing micro-environment will help the development of new therapeutic opportunities. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: In 3D cell cultures, monitoring pericellular pO is as critical as controlling pH. This facility is currently missing. Here, we take advantage of the direct and inverse relationship between pO and the fluorescence intensity of ruthenium complexes to generate stable gelatin-collagen matrixes able to continuously monitoring the pO at the pericellular level. The ruthenium complexes, which are photo-activators in the two-photon polymerization of these matrixes, became covalently bind to the collagen fibers. Indeed, local O consumption by cancer cells during migration, mitosis and tumor mass formation caused a 3-fold increase of the ruthenium fluorescence. In the future, incorporating ruthenium complexes with other bio-optical sensors will create new drug screening platforms that monitor cell culture parameters at the pericellular level.