Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

The Tumor Microenvironment02:17

The Tumor Microenvironment

7.0K
Every normal cell or tissue is embedded in a complex local environment called stroma, consisting of different cell types, a basal membrane, and blood vessels. As normal cells mutate and develop into cancer cells, their local environment also changes to allow cancer progression. The tumor microenvironment (TME) consists of a complex cellular matrix of stromal cells and the developing tumor. The cross-talk between cancer cells and surrounding stromal cells is critical to disrupt normal tissue...
7.0K
Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

7.9K
The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against...
7.9K
Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine02:50

Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine

5.2K
Combining two or more treatment methods increases the life span of cancer patients while reducing damage to vital organs or tissue from the overuse of a single treatment. Combination therapy also targets different cancer-inducing pathways, thus reducing the chances of developing resistance to treatment.
The combination of the drug acetazolamide and sulforaphane is a good example of combination therapy to treat cancer. The cells in the interior of a large tumor often die due to the hypoxic and...
5.2K
Tumor Immunotherapy01:27

Tumor Immunotherapy

725
Immunotherapy is a treatment that boosts or manipulates the immune system to fight diseases, including cancer. For instance, by stimulating an immune response through vaccinations against viruses that cause cancers, like hepatitis B virus and human papillomavirus, these diseases can be prevented. Nonetheless, some cancer cells can avoid the immune system due to their rapid mutation and division. The immune response to many cancers involves three phases: elimination, equilibrium, and escape.
725
Drugs that Stabilize Microtubules01:15

Drugs that Stabilize Microtubules

2.2K
Microtubules are dynamic structures that undergo cycles of catastrophe and rescue. The microtubules play a central role in cell division by forming the spindle apparatus for segregating the chromosomes. This makes them ideal targets for regulating dividing cells in tumors and malignant cancer cells. Microtubule stabilizing drugs help stabilize the microtubule formation and promote its polymerization. Paclitaxel was the first microtubule stabilizing agent used as anticancer drug in chemotherapy...
2.2K
Drugs that Destabilize Microtubules01:10

Drugs that Destabilize Microtubules

2.1K
Microtubules are dynamic structures and can be regulated by microtubule targeting agents (MTAs). Microtubule destabilizing drugs are a class of MTAs that destabilize and prevent microtubules' polymerization. Both natural and synthetic chemicals can be found under this class of drugs. Vincristine and vinblastine, two vinca alkaloids, and colchicine were among the first to be discovered. These drugs can affect cells in various ways, either by inducing a change in cell morphology, preventing...
2.1K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Localized stiffness programming enables tunable spatial control of vascular density in 3D hydrogels.

Chemical communications (Cambridge, England)·2026
Same author

Bubble Formation Control: Fabrication of Centimeter-Sized Tissue-Like Constructs by Catalase-Coated Oxygen-Releasing Hydrogel.

Advanced materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)·2026
Same author

Organic acid optimization for the fabrication of centimeter-scale uniaxially aligned capillary networks in cell-laden collagen fiber assemblies.

Biochemical and biophysical research communications·2026
Same author

Age-dependent vascular and neurological characteristics of CADASIL are recapitulated in Notch3 mutant zebrafish, implicating a role for type IV collagen in disease progression.

Acta neuropathologica communications·2026
Same author

Phototunable hydrogel mechanics for spatial guidance of blood capillary morphogenesis.

Biofabrication·2026
Same author

Ln<sub>3</sub>TCAS<sub>2</sub>-polyethyleneimine supramolecular nanogels: a platform for neutron capture therapy and complementary magnetic resonance imaging (Ln = lanthanide, TCAS = thiacalix[4]arene-<i>p</i>-tetrasulfonate).

Dalton transactions (Cambridge, England : 2003)·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 12, 2025

Using Microarrays to Interrogate Microenvironmental Impact on Cellular Phenotypes in Cancer
08:20

Using Microarrays to Interrogate Microenvironmental Impact on Cellular Phenotypes in Cancer

Published on: May 21, 2019

5.7K

Cancer-microenvironment triggered self-assembling therapy with molecular blocks.

Hirotaka Nakatsuji1, Yudai Shioji, Noboru Hiraoka

  • 1Joint Research Laboratory (TOPPAN) for Advanced Cell Regulatory Chemistry, 2-1 Yamadaoka, Suita city, Osaka 565-0871, Japan. m-matsus@chem.eng.osaka-u.ac.jp.

Materials Horizons
|November 25, 2021
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

A novel drug-free cancer therapy uses molecular blocks (MBs) that self-assemble in the tumor microenvironment, disrupting cancer cell membranes and inhibiting tumor growth. This approach enhances drug delivery efficiency and reduces side effects.

More Related Videos

Analysis of Human T Cell Activity in an Allogeneic Co-Culture Setting of Pre-Treated Tumor Cells
09:04

Analysis of Human T Cell Activity in an Allogeneic Co-Culture Setting of Pre-Treated Tumor Cells

Published on: March 7, 2025

783
Coculture Assays to Study Macrophage and Microglia Stimulation of Glioblastoma Invasion
09:23

Coculture Assays to Study Macrophage and Microglia Stimulation of Glioblastoma Invasion

Published on: October 20, 2016

14.3K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Oct 12, 2025

Using Microarrays to Interrogate Microenvironmental Impact on Cellular Phenotypes in Cancer
08:20

Using Microarrays to Interrogate Microenvironmental Impact on Cellular Phenotypes in Cancer

Published on: May 21, 2019

5.7K
Analysis of Human T Cell Activity in an Allogeneic Co-Culture Setting of Pre-Treated Tumor Cells
09:04

Analysis of Human T Cell Activity in an Allogeneic Co-Culture Setting of Pre-Treated Tumor Cells

Published on: March 7, 2025

783
Coculture Assays to Study Macrophage and Microglia Stimulation of Glioblastoma Invasion
09:23

Coculture Assays to Study Macrophage and Microglia Stimulation of Glioblastoma Invasion

Published on: October 20, 2016

14.3K

Area of Science:

  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Nanotechnology
  • Cancer Therapy

Background:

  • Current drug delivery systems (DDS) face challenges in anticancer drug accumulation due to stromal tissue blockage and intracellular transport inefficiencies.
  • Improving cancer therapy efficacy remains a significant challenge, necessitating innovative approaches beyond traditional DDS.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop a drug-free cancer microenvironment-targeting therapy using molecular blocks (MBs) to overcome DDS limitations.
  • To enhance the efficiency of cancer treatment by designing MBs for improved circulation, tumor penetration, and targeted cancer cell membrane disruption.

Main Methods:

  • Designed molecular blocks (MBs) responsive to the acidic tumor microenvironment (pH ~6.5) using deoxycholic acid (DCA) conjugated to 4-arm poly(ethylene glycol) (4-MB).
  • Investigated MB self-assembly on cancer cell surfaces in response to acidic conditions, leading to membrane disruption and cell death.
  • Evaluated MB accumulation in tumors and their efficacy in suppressing tumor growth in vivo.

Main Results:

  • The DCA-conjugated 4-arm PEG (4-MB) demonstrated self-assembly on cancer cell membranes under acidic conditions.
  • Significant cytotoxicity was observed due to MB-induced cancer cell membrane disruption.
  • Efficient tumor accumulation and effective in vivo tumor growth suppression were achieved with the MB therapy.

Conclusions:

  • The developed MB therapy offers a novel, drug-free strategy to target the cancer microenvironment, overcoming limitations of conventional DDS.
  • This approach enhances therapeutic efficiency by directly disrupting cancer cell membranes via MB self-assembly, avoiding complex intracellular drug transport.
  • MB therapy shows promise as a new strategy for effective cancer treatment with potential for reduced side effects.