Stiffer microenvironments are also thought to stimulate matrix metalloprotease (

Question

Stiffer microenvironments are also thought to stimulate matrix metalloprotease (MMP) secretion by GB tumor cells. MMPs cleave extracellular matrix proteins and thus MMP secretion increases tumor cell migration. Suppose you want to test if GB cells secrete more MMPs and, as a result, migrate more when the microenvironment becomes stiffer. How could you test this using Alginate hydrogels? Propose a functional assay, not a biochemical assay (that is, don’t propose measuring MMP secretion from cells). You also don’t need to tell me details of chemical reactions (= no need to look up google).

Explanation / Answer

Alginate hydrogels can be used in drug delivery and engineering applications. This can be used as model extracellular matrices for basic biological studies. Alginate hydrogels can be conjugated with a dye and transported into the GB tumor cell. This will help in tracing the movement of GB cells on releasing of MMP.

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