Topographical Features of Graphene-Oxide-Functionalized Substrates Modulate Cancer and Healthy Cell Adhesion Based on
A Marrella1, P Giannoni1, I Pulsoni2
1Biology Section, Department of Experimental Medicine , University of Genova , Via Pastore 3 , Genoa 16132 , Italy.
Abstract:
Graphene-derived materials, such as graphene oxide (GO), have been widely explored for biomedical and biological applications, including cancer research. Despite some recent works proving that GO inhibits the migration and invasion of different cancer cells, so far most of these in vitro studies have been conducted using GO sheets dispersed in solution or as a planar film. On the contrary, little is known about cellular activities, such as cell viability, adhesion, and spreading, when cancer cells interface with GO functionalized hydrogel-based surfaces, biomechanically and structurally more similar to the tumor environment. Here, we evaluate the interactions of human breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231) with alginate (Alg)/GO hydrogel-based substrates, and compare them with a cancer cell line from human osteosarcoma (HOS) and healthy murine fibroblasts (3T3). We observed that GO addition selectively inhibits malignant breast cancer cell adhesion efficiency and spreading area, while promotes HOS and 3T3 adhesive processes. Furthermore, we did not observe the same results over Alg substrates with GO nanosheets dispersed in the medium, without embedment into the Alg. This suggests that cancer (MDA-MB-231 and HOS) and healthy (3T3) cell adhesion efficacy does not depend on the cellular tumoral nature and it is driven by the topographical cues provided by the GO-based substrates, whose physical-mechanical characteristics better mimic those of the cell native tissue. We envision that this study can provide a rational for future design and use of graphene-based nanomaterials for cancer research by deepening the knowledge of graphene-cancer cell specific interactions.
Insights
Graphene oxide (GO) in hydrogels selectively inhibits breast cancer cell adhesion, unlike when dispersed in solution. This suggests topographical cues, not cell type, drive GO
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Cancer Research
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Graphene oxide (GO) shows promise in biomedical applications, including cancer research.
- Previous studies on GO's effect on cancer cells primarily used solutions or films, not biomimetic hydrogels.
- Limited understanding exists regarding cancer cell interactions with GO-functionalized hydrogels, which mimic tumor environments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the interactions of human breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231) with alginate/GO hydrogel substrates.
- To compare these interactions with osteosarcoma cells (HOS) and healthy fibroblasts (3T3).
- To elucidate the role of topographical cues from GO-functionalized hydrogels in cell adhesion and spreading.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of alginate (Alg)/graphene oxide (GO) hydrogel substrates.
- Culturing human breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231), osteosarcoma cells (HOS), and murine fibroblasts (3T3) on these substrates.
- Analyzing cell viability, adhesion efficiency, and spreading area on different GO-functionalized surfaces versus GO in solution.
Main Results:
- GO addition to alginate hydrogels selectively inhibited adhesion and spreading of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells.
- Conversely, GO-functionalized hydrogels promoted adhesive processes in HOS cells and 3T3 fibroblasts.
- No similar effects were observed when GO nanosheets were dispersed in the medium, highlighting the importance of GO embedment in the hydrogel structure.
Conclusions:
- The topographical cues of GO-based hydrogel substrates, rather than the inherent nature of cancer or healthy cells, primarily drive cell adhesion efficacy.
- GO-functionalized hydrogels offer a biomimetic platform to study and potentially modulate cancer cell behavior.
- This research provides a foundation for designing graphene-based nanomaterials for targeted cancer research and therapeutic strategies.
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