Glioblastoma is the most aggressive malignant brain tumour in adults and one of the most challenging cancers in neurology and neurosurgery. This is because glioblastomas grow rapidly and infiltrate the surrounding brain tissue, making complete surgical removal almost impossible. These tumours are also highly resistant to therapeutic agents. Glioblastomas are not yet curable.
In order to understand why, for example, chemotherapeutics do not work and how these resistances can be overcome, our Clinical Neurobiology department has developed a translational 3D cell culture system that can be used to study the interactions of brain tumour cells with healthy brain cells. The 3D model is based on neurons (nerve cells), astrocytes (specialised glial cells of the central nervous system) and mouse tumour cells.
“Our 3D model realistically depicts the natural environment and the interactions between the cells, similar to experiments with living organisms. We can use the model to investigate and manipulate chemotherapeutic agents and their mechanism of action on tumour growth,” explains Mateo S. Andrade Mier. The doctoral student published his research project as first author in the journal Advanced Functional Materials (https://lnkd.in/eXCruqPc).
Even though 3D sounds simple here, the printing process was a challenge in itself due to the ultra-softness of the natural brain tissue, according to Prof Dr Carmen Villmann, head of the research group at the Institute of Clinical Neurobiology. This is because such ultra-soft bioinks or hydrogels spread like water on the surface and are difficult to mould. To solve this problem, the interdisciplinary team used special scaffolds made of microfibres, which can be printed in various shapes using biofabrication and are biocompatible, to reinforce the model. The scaffolds were colonised with different cell types, which enabled long-term studies over several weeks.
The project is part of the CRC/ TRR 225 “From the fundamentals of biofabrication towards functional tissue models”.
Further information can be found here: https://lnkd.in/etVDkdMa
Villmann Carmen; Mateo Andrade Mier; Katrin Heinze; Rudolf Virchow Research Center; Jörg Teßmar; Dr.-Ing. Silvia Budday; Gregor Lang;
Pictures:
Feature image (Collage): Illustration of the dimensions of the 3D model. The microfibre scaffolds are smaller in diameter than a 1-cent coin. The tumours in the hydrogel grow together with neurons and astrocytes in these scaffolds. A look under the microscope reveals the actual interactions between the cell types (yellow: neurons, pink: tumour cells). © C. Villmann & D. Peter
Below: Mateo S. Andrade Mier and Carmen Villmann look at the microfibre scaffolds that give structure to the ultra-soft bioinks and living cells. © Daniel Peter
