1. Alginate-gelatine hydrogel microspheres protect NK cell proliferation and cytotoxicity under hypoxic conditions.
- Author
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Cheon J, Song M, and Kwon S
- Subjects
- Humans, Cell Survival drug effects, Cell Hypoxia drug effects, Cell Encapsulation methods, Animals, Tumor Microenvironment drug effects, Cell Line, Tumor, Mice, Killer Cells, Natural, Alginates chemistry, Alginates pharmacology, Hydrogels chemistry, Hydrogels pharmacology, Cell Proliferation drug effects, Gelatin chemistry, Microspheres
- Abstract
Aims: This study aimed to encapsulate natural killer (NK) cells in a hydrogel to sustain their function within the hypoxic tumour microenvironments., Methods: An alginate-gelatine hydrogel was generated via electrospray technology. Hydrogel biocompatibility was assessed through cell counting kit-8 and Live/Dead assays to ascertain cell. Moreover, we analysed lactate dehydrogenase assays to evaluate the cytotoxicity against tumours and utilised RT-qPCR to analyse cytokine gene level., Results: Alginate and gelatine formed hydrogels with diameters ranging from 489.2 ± 23.0 μm, and the encapsulation efficiency was 34.07 ± 1.76%. Encapsulated NK cells exhibited robust proliferation and tumour-killing capabilities under normoxia and hypoxia. Furthermore, encapsulation provided a protective shield against cell viability under hypoxia. Importantly, tumour-killing cytotoxicity through cytokines upregulation such as granzyme B and interferon-gamma was preserved under hypoxia., Conclusion: The encapsulation of NK cells not only safeguards their viability but also reinforces anticancer capacity, countering the inhibition of activation induced by hypoxia.
- Published
- 2024
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