Nanowire Assisted Mechanotyping of Cellular Metastatic Potential

Abstract

Nanotechnology has provided tools for next generation biomedical devices which rely on nanostructure interfaces with living cells. In vitro biomimetic structures have enabled observation of cell response to various mechanical and chemical cues, and there is a growing interest in isolating and harnessing the specific cues that 3D microenvironments can provide without the requirement for such culture and the experimental drawbacks associated with it. Here, a randomly oriented gold coated Si nanowire substrate with patterned hydrophobic-hydrophilic areas for the differentiation of isogenic breast cancer cells of varying metastatic potential is reported. When considering synthetic surfaces for the study of cell-nanotopography interfaces, randomly oriented nanowires more closely resemble the isotropic architecture of a natural extracellular matrix. In the study reported here, the authors show that primary cancer cells preferably attach to the hydrophilic region of randomly oriented nanowire substrate while secondary cancer cells do not adhere. Using machine learning analysis of fluorescence images, cells are found to spread and elongate on the nanowire substrates as compared to a flat substrate, where they mostly remain round. Such platforms can not only be used for developing bioassays but also as stepping stones for tissue printing technologies where cells can be selectively patterned at desired locations.

On-Site Stimulation of Dendritic Cells by Cancer-Derived Extracellular Vesicles on a Core–Shell Nanowire Platform

“…In this research, we have demonstrated the realization of a platform for EV capture and the simultaneous differentiation and proliferation of DCs. Conventional ZnO nanowires effectively captured the EVs, but they were proved to be cytotoxic in this study, which is consistent with the literature; − however, it is possible to remove the toxicity by forming a protective film using another metal oxide, which will satisfy EV capture and cell culture requirements simultaneously. DCs are generally considered the starting point of acquired immunity, and in conventional DC vaccine therapy, tumor tissue is administered to DCs to take up and present the tumor-associated antigen.…”

Revealing Low Amplitude Signals of Neuroendocrine Cells through Disordered Silicon Nanowires‐Based Microelectrode Array

“…In this regard, randomly organized nanostructures with non‐uniform size distribution are gaining significant attention as suitable interface for cellular cultures. [ 29 , 30 , 31 ] Specifically, disordered silicon nanowires (SiNWs) offer unprecedented versatility in terms of mammalian cell interfacing [ 29 , 31 , 32 ] due to their architecture mimicking the extracellular matrix, and as probes of cellular function and biomolecules through electrical and optical signal transduction. [ 31 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 ] Moreover, these systems can be easily obtained by using low‐cost, high‐yield and facile bottom‐up fabrication methods at low temperature (<350 °C) [ 35 , 38 ] thus permitting their direct growth on specific flexible substrates like as polyimide.…”

Label-Free Morpho-Molecular Imaging for Studying the Differential Interaction of Black Phosphorus with Tumor Cells

“…For example, metal nanoparticles (NPs) have been demonstrated as effective photothermal agents for in vivo imaging and destruction of cancer cells [3][4][5] as well as targeted drug nanocarriers [6,7]. In vitro, other nanomaterials such as silicon nanowires (SiNWs) have shown tremendous promise in recording extracellular and intracellular bioelectrical signals [8][9][10][11], destroying tumor cells [12], detecting very low concentrations of different biomolecules [13][14][15][16], and offering mechanotyping possibilities [17,18].…”