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Shooting for the moon: using tissue-mimetic hydrogels to gain new insight on cancer biology and screen therapeutics

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 September 2017

Samantha E. Holt ,
E. Sally Ward ,
Raimund J. Ober  and
Daniel L. Alge
Samantha E. Holt
Affiliation:
Department of Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
E. Sally Ward
Affiliation:
Department of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, Texas A&M Health Science Center, College Station, Texas, USA
Raimund J. Ober
Affiliation:
Department of Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA Department of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, Texas A&M Health Science Center, College Station, Texas, USA
Daniel L. Alge*
Affiliation:
Department of Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
*
Address all correspondence to D. L. Alge at dalge@tamu.edu
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Abstract

Tissue engineering holds great promise for advancing cancer research and achieving the goals of the Cancer Moonshot by providing better models for basic research and testing novel therapeutics. This paper focuses on the use of hydrogel biomaterials due to their unique ability to entrap cells in three-dimensional (3D) matrix that mimics tissues and can be programmed with physical and chemical cues to recreate key aspects of tumor microenvironments. The chemistry of some commonly used hydrogel platforms is discussed, and important examples of their use in tissue engineering 3D cancer models are highlighted. Challenges and opportunities for future research are also discussed.

Information

Type
Biomaterials for 3D Cell Biology Prospective Articles
Information
MRS Communications , Volume 7 , Issue 3 , September 2017 , pp. 427 - 441
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2017 

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