Nanochips of Tantalum Oxide Nanodots as artificial-microenvironments for monitoring Ovarian cancer progressiveness

Abstract

Nanotopography modulates cell characteristics and cell behavior. Nanotopological cues can be exploited to investigate the in-vivo modulation of cell characteristics by the cellular microenvironment. However, the studies explaining the modulation of tumor cell characteristics and identifying the transition step in cancer progressiveness are scarce. Here, we engineered nanochips comprising of Tantalum oxide nanodot arrays of 10, 50, 100 and 200 nm as artificial microenvironments to study the modulation of cancer cell behavior. Clinical samples of different types of Ovarian cancer at different stages were obtained, primary cultures were established and then seeded on different nanochips. Immunofluorescence (IF) was performed to compare the morphologies and cell characteristics. Indices corresponding to cell characteristics were defined. A statistical comparison of the cell characteristics in response to the nanochips was performed. The cells displayed differential growth parameters. Morphology, Viability, focal adhesions, microfilament bundles and cell area were modulated by the nanochips which can be used as a measure to study the cancer progressiveness. The ease of fabrication of nanochips ensures mass-production. The ability of the nanochips to act as artificial microenvironments and modulate cell behavior may lead to further prospects in the markerless monitoring of the progressiveness and ultimately, improving the prognosis of Ovarian cancer.

Nanochip-Induced Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition: Impact of Physical Microenvironment on Cancer Metastasis

“…In the past decade, our research group has studied the response of a number of cancer cell lines on these nanochips. 11 The decrease in the expression of vinculin with the increase in the nanodot size has been consistent throughout our studies. In vivo, vinculin is responsible for establishing the cell−cell and cell−substrate junctions.…”

Regulation of Ovarian Cancer Prognosis by Immune Cells in the Tumor Microenvironment

“…Additional methods to study the HGSOC TME include combinations of proteomic and other genomic data output [ 180 , 181 ] and a study approach addressing multiple parameters (such as gene expression, matrix proteomics, cytokine and chemokine expression, ECM parameters, and biomechanical properties) on a single biopsy sample for a better understanding of the events occurring in tumor tissue [ 182 ]. Other novel tools to study the ovarian TME include the use of artificial microenvironments to monitor ovarian-cancer progressiveness [ 183 ].…”

Nanotopography as Artificial Microenvironment for Accurate Visualization of Metastasis Development via Simulation of ECM Dynamics

“…Nanotopography has been used to construct in vitro ECM possessing distinctive physical properties including fiber sizes, orientation, stiffness, ligand-binding function, and remodeling potential to precisely mimic the regulatory effects of in vivo ECM. − Importantly, tantalum pentoxide (TaOx) nanotopography demonstrates high biocompatibility , and has been extensively engineered on silicon substrates with diameters ranging from 10 to 200 nm to induce varying levels of modulation in cell behaviors including morphological change, apoptosis, adhesion, proliferation, and migration. − Therefore, based on in vivo ECM nanoarchitecture size, the AME platform is comprised of TaOx nanodot arrays of increasing diameter ranging from 10 to 200 nm.…”