Synthesis of a Bone Marrow-Mimicking Hydrogel for Maintaining Leukemic Cells In Vitro
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Date
2025-05
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The Ohio State University
Abstract
Traditional 2D cell culture techniques, while cost-efficient and simple to perform, do not allow for cancer heterogeneity and cell-cell interactions as is seen with in vivo environments. With the rise of 3D cell culture via methods like hydrogels and microfluidic devices, these more complex cell interactions become possible and can better recapitulate the microenvironments seen in native tissue. Our goal was to generate a 3D in vitro model of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) that could be deployed in future applications such as drug development and screening studies. To understand these 3D systems better, a hyaluronic acid and gelatin-based hydrogel system was modified to modulate its physical properties. This modified hydrogel, along with the AML MOLM-13 cell line, was used to test cell viability in varying hydrogel formulas, after which drug screens using cytarabine and daunorubicin, two drugs that have been used clinically to treat AML. The MOLM-13 cell line saw the highest viability in the decreased concentration hydrogel through LIVE/DEAD analysis compared to the high and standard concentrations. In the low-concentration hydrogels, cytarabine showed no significant difference in toxicity compared to the control population, while daunorubicin showed dose-dependent toxicity with increasing drug concentration. These findings are the first step in developing an accurate bone-marrow mimicking system to better understand AML onset and progression.
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Keywords
Hydrogel, cell culture, AML