Assessing drug uptake and response differences in 2D and 3D cellular environments using stimulated Raman scattering...

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Cancer Research
• Microscopy Techniques

Background:

• Cell culture architecture (2D vs. 3D) influences cellular behavior and drug response.
• Three-dimensional (3D) cell cultures often exhibit increased resistance to cancer chemotherapeutic drugs compared to 2D cultures.
• Limited experimental techniques exist for spatial molecular profiling in 3D cultures to understand drug resistance mechanisms.

Conclusions:

• Increased drug resistance in 3D cell cultures is not solely explained by intracellular drug uptake differences.
• Enhanced drug tolerance within the 3D microenvironment and factors like limited drug penetration contribute to resistance.
• SRS microscopy is a valuable tool for spatially resolved analysis of drug uptake and response in complex 3D tumor models.
• This study provides insights into the mechanisms underlying drug resistance in 3D tumor models, crucial for developing effective cancer therapies.