Cailan Xiao, Ning Xie, Qiuai Shu, Xiru Liang, Ziwei Wang, Jian Wu, Nianyuan Shi, Xindi Huang, Zhong-Cao Wei, Xiaoliang Gao, Hao Liu, Kaichun Wu, Jingyuan Xu, Jin-Hai Wang, Na Liu, Feng Xu
The biophysical properties of the extracellular matrix (ECM) play a pivotal role in modulating cancer progression via cell-ECM interactions. However, the biophysical properties specific to gastric cancer (GC) remain largely unexplored. Pertinently, GC ECM shows significantly heterogeneous metamorphoses, such as matrix stiffening and intricate restructuring. By combining collagen I and alginate, this study designs an in vitro biomimetic hydrogel platform to independently modulate matrix stiffness and structure across a physiological stiffness spectrum while preserving consistent collagen concentration and fiber topography...
May 7, 2024: Small