The natural extracellular matrix (ECM) consists of a continuous integrated fibrin network and a negatively charged proteoglycan-based matrix. In this work, we report a novel three-dimensional nanofiber hydrogel composite that mimics the natural ECM structure, exhibiting both degradability and mechanical characteristics comparable to that of tumor tissue. The embedded nanofiber improves the hydrogel mechanical properties, and varying the fiber density can match the elastic modulus of different tumor tissues (1.51–10.77 kPa). The degradability of the scaffold gives sufficient space for tumor cells to secrete and remodel the ECM. The expression levels of cancer stem cell markers confirmed the development of aggressive and metastatic phenotypes of prostate cancer cells in the 3D scaffold. Similar results were obtained in terms of anticancer resistance of prostate cancer cells in 3D scaffolds showing stem cell-like properties, suggesting that the current bionic 3D scaffold tumor model has broad potential in the development of effective targeted agents.

中文翻译：

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走向形态相关的细胞外基质：用于肿瘤细胞培养的纳米纤维-水凝胶复合材料

天然细胞外基质 (ECM) 由连续整合的纤维蛋白网络和带负电的蛋白聚糖基质组成。在这项工作中，我们报告了一种新型三维纳米纤维水凝胶复合材料，它模仿天然 ECM 结构，表现出与肿瘤组织相当的可降解性和机械特性。嵌入的纳米纤维提高了水凝胶的机械性能，改变纤维密度可以匹配不同肿瘤组织的弹性模量（1.51-10.77 kPa）。支架的可降解性为肿瘤细胞分泌和重塑 ECM 提供了足够的空间。癌症干细胞标记物的表达水平证实了 3D 支架中前列腺癌细胞侵袭性和转移性表型的发展。在显示干细胞样特性的 3D 支架中前列腺癌细胞的抗癌耐药性方面也获得了类似的结果，表明当前的仿生 3D 支架肿瘤模型在开发有效靶向药物方面具有广泛的潜力。