New synthetic hydrogels for tumour spheroids and intestinal organoid cultures (publication)

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We collaborated with groups of Prof. Richard Hoogenboom and Prof. Devriendt (Ghent University) and tested application of poly(2-alkyl-2-oxazoline) hydrogels (PAOx) for 3D cell cultures of cancer and stem cells. We found that encapsulation of small intestinal organoids into PAOx hydrogels results in polarity reversion, i.e. transition from basal to apical-out phenotype. This is useful for studying drug delivery, nutrient absorption and host-microbiota interactions within this model. 
This figure shows dramatic differences of mitochondrial polarisation (TMRM) and appearance (transmission light) in small intestinal organoids, observed after apical-out transition (PAOx), in contrast to conventional Matrigel-grown culture:



Since the PAOx hydrogels can show variable mechanical properties, we tested if encapsulation into stiff and soft hydrogels can affect behaviour of cancer cells in 3D: indeed, with HCT116 spheroids we found that stiffness of the hydrogels affect cell migration from spheroid and their oxygenation gradients. Congratulations to all the co-authors, especially Irina and Robin, who made this work possible.

Link to full paper:

 

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