Microarraying the cellular microenvironment

Microarraying the cellular microenvironment

The in vivo stem cell microenvironment or niche is composed of an intricate blend of extracellular matrix proteins, soluble protein factors, immobilized protein factors, proteoglycans, small molecule signals, in some cases mineralized tissue, and numerous adjacent cell types, all of which likely vary in space and time. In concert, these many components present the cells with an ‘array’ of bioch...

NEWS AND VIEWS Microarraying the cellular microenvironment

The in vivo stem cell microenvironment or niche is composed of an intricate blend of extracellular matrix proteins, soluble protein factors, immobilized protein factors, proteoglycans, small molecule signals, in some cases mineralized tissue, and numerous adjacent cell types, all of which likely vary in space and time. In concert, these many components present the cells with an ‘array’ of bioch...

Patterning the cellular microenvironment.

Designing a hepatocellular microenvironment with protein microarraying and poly(ethylene glycol) photolithography.

In this study, robotic protein printing was employed as a method for designing a cellular microenvironment. Protein printing proved to be an effective strategy for creating micropatterned co-cultures of primary rat hepatocytes and 3T3 fibroblasts. Collagen spots (ca. 170 microm in diameter) were printed onto amino-silane- and glutaraldehyde-modified glass slides. Groups of 15-20 hepatocytes att...

Cellular composition of the tumor microenvironment.

In addition to malignant cells, the tumor microenvironment also includes nonmalignant cells, secreted proteins, and blood vessels that surround and support the growth of the tumor. Interactions between the various components of the tumor microenvironment are significant; tumor cells can change the nature of the microenvironment, and conversely, the microenvironment can affect how a tumor grows ...