Novel Nanomaterials Enable Biomimetic Models of the Tumor Microenvironment

Figure 1

Mechanical cues from the extracellular matrix help drive tumorigenesis. (a) Increasing collagen production and cross-linking causes a stiffening of the extracellular matrix (ECM). This increasing mechanical load on the microenvironment has been shown to alter phenotypic expression of cells towards malignant phenotypes. (b, e) Nonmalignant mammary epithelial cells will form spherical acini with apical/basal polarity, a basement membrane, and a hollow lumen. (c, f) The organized structure is lost in malignant cells, as is the hollow lumen. (d, g) Metastatic cells exhibit similar phenotypes to malignant cells with the loss of apical/basal polarity, basement membrane, and hollow lumen. For images (b–d), mammary spheroids are stained for GM130 (red), DAPI (blue), and actin (green). Images (e, f) show mammary spheroids stained for laminin (red) and DAPI (blue).