AI Article Synopsis
- Changes in sodium alginate and calcium ion concentrations affect the structure of calcium alginate gel beads, which in turn impacts the behavior of cells encapsulated in them.
- A study found that hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells had a greater ability to invade when encapsulated in beads with a higher calcium concentration (200 mM) compared to a lower concentration (50 mM).
- The higher calcium concentration also led to increased expression of metastasis-related genes and proteins, making these ALG beads a useful tool for studying liver cancer metastasis and testing new drugs.
Article Abstract
Changes in sodium alginate and calcium ion concentrations have a considerable impact on the structural properties of calcium alginate gel (ALG) beads, consequently influencing the biological characteristics of the cells encapsulated within them. This study aimed to examine the effects of calcium on the metastatic potential of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells encapsulated in ALG beads. The results showed that the invasion ability of HCC cells significantly increased when they were encapsulated in beads prepared with a calcium concentration of 200 mM compared to those prepared with a calcium concentration of 50 mM. Furthermore, the expression levels of genes related to metastasis were significantly elevated in ALG beads prepared with a calcium concentration of 200 mM. Specifically, the expression of activated matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2), matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9), and urokinase-type plasminogen activator system proteins was found to be high. Conversely, the expression of phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10 was observed to be significantly reduced. These findings indicate that manipulating the calcium ion concentration during the fabrication of ALG beads enables the generation of three-dimensional HCC cells with varying metastatic capacities. This model offers a valuable tool for investigating the mechanisms underlying liver cancer metastasis and screening potential therapeutic drugs.
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| http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.colsurfb.2024.114201 | DOI Listing |
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