ERC INTERCELLMED - Sensing Cell-Cell Interaction Heterogeneity in 3D Tumor Models: Towards Precision Medicine (DFM.AD003.255)

Thematic area

Physical sciences and technologies of matter

Project area

Structure responsible for the research project

Institute of Nanotechnology (NANOTEC)

Project manager

LORETTA LAUREANA DEL MERCATO
Phone number: +390832319825
Email: loretta.delmercato@nanotec.cnr.it

Abstract

This project aims to investigate the role of potassium (K+), protons (H+) and oxygen (O2) gradients in the extracellular space of tumour cells grown in 3D cultures by using a combination of imaging, cell biology and in silico analyses. By embedding ratiometric fluorescent particle-based sensors within 3D scaffolds, the changes in target analyte concentrations can be monitored and used to study the interactions between tumour cells and stromal cells in 3D tumoroids/scaffolds and to monitor response of the cells to drug treatments. INTERCELLMED will engineer 3D scaffolds that do not only sense extracellular pH but are also able to sense K+ and O2 changes. To this aim, a novel set of anisotropic analyte-sensitive ratiometric capsules will be developed and applied for generating robust and flexible capsules-embedded sensing scaffolds. To validate the functions of the 3D sensing platform, cocoltures of tumour cells and stromal cells will be grown and their interaction and response to drug treatments will be studied by mapping the K+/H+/O2 gradients in and around the cell aggregates.

Goals

Objective 1. SENSOR PARTICLES: Design anisotropic analyte-sensor capsules that read-out the local concentration changes of K+, H+ and O2

Objective 2. 3D SCAFFOLDS: Integrate the capsule-based analyte-sensors within 3D scaffolds

Objective 3. PHARMACOLOGY: Validate the 3D sensing scaffold systems for pharmacological studies of anticancer therapy

Start date of activity

01/02/2018

Keywords

Ratiometric Biosensors, Dimensional Scaffolds, Imaging

Last update: 07/06/2025