Journal: Bioactive Materials

Article Title: Harnessing the power of physicochemical material property screening to direct breast epithelial and breast cancer cells

doi: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2025.04.003

Figure Lengend Snippet: DOG screening overview. a , Screening overview showing the heatmaps (average of n = 3) of the cell proliferation at 24 h and 72 h for both the MCF10a and MCF7 cells quantified as Ki-67 positive nuclei. The heatmaps corresponding to the cell density and cell area can be found in the supplementary figures. b , Scatter plots showing all data points from one screening (4 DOGs) ranked from low to high. Tissue culture polystyrene (TCP) was used as a control. The 10 % lowest and 10 % highest scoring datapoints are shown on the side and are shown to be significantly different (p < 0.0001). Annotation of black dot with “T” or “L” corresponds to the representative fluorescence images of “Top” and “Low” hits as shown in .

Article Snippet: Normal breast epithelial cells (MCF10a, Aldrich) were maintained in MCF10a Complete Medium (EP-ML-0525, Elabscience) containing 5 % horse serum, 20 ng mL −1 epidermal growth factor (EGF), 0.5 μg/mL hydrocortisone, 10 μg/mL insulin, 1 % non-essential amino acid solution (NEAA), and 1 % penicillin/streptomycin.

Techniques: Control, Fluorescence

Journal: Bioactive Materials

Article Title: Harnessing the power of physicochemical material property screening to direct breast epithelial and breast cancer cells

doi: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2025.04.003

Figure Lengend Snippet: Top- and low-hit Ki-67-expressing proliferative cells after 72 h of cell culture . Cells were stained for Ki-67 (red), phalloidin (green), and nuclei (blue). Scale bar is 100 μm. White arrows show examples of Ki-67 positive nuclei. The underlying material properties of each image are: MCF10a top hit: S-W 51° 251 MPa, MCF10a low hit: T-S|W 3.8 μm 82° 47 MPa, MCF7 top hit: S-W 63° 42 MPa, MCF7 low hit: T-SW 6 μm 68° 63 MPa.

Article Snippet: Normal breast epithelial cells (MCF10a, Aldrich) were maintained in MCF10a Complete Medium (EP-ML-0525, Elabscience) containing 5 % horse serum, 20 ng mL −1 epidermal growth factor (EGF), 0.5 μg/mL hydrocortisone, 10 μg/mL insulin, 1 % non-essential amino acid solution (NEAA), and 1 % penicillin/streptomycin.

Techniques: Expressing, Cell Culture, Staining

Journal: Bioactive Materials

Article Title: Harnessing the power of physicochemical material property screening to direct breast epithelial and breast cancer cells

doi: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2025.04.003

Figure Lengend Snippet: Scatter plots comparing the effect of each individual physicochemical parameter of the DOG between MCF10a and MCF7 cells. The material parameters (topography, wettability, and stiffness on the same data points, shown with the corresponding color scale) were shown on the biological output (cell proliferation, % Ki-67 positive cells) for the MCF10a vs. the MCF7 cells. Similar plots showing the scatter plots for cell density and cell area can be found in .

Article Snippet: Normal breast epithelial cells (MCF10a, Aldrich) were maintained in MCF10a Complete Medium (EP-ML-0525, Elabscience) containing 5 % horse serum, 20 ng mL −1 epidermal growth factor (EGF), 0.5 μg/mL hydrocortisone, 10 μg/mL insulin, 1 % non-essential amino acid solution (NEAA), and 1 % penicillin/streptomycin.

Techniques:

Journal: Bioactive Materials

Article Title: Harnessing the power of physicochemical material property screening to direct breast epithelial and breast cancer cells

doi: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2025.04.003

Figure Lengend Snippet: ROIs were chosen that lead to a higher proliferation after 72 h for MCF10a than MCF7 cells. a , Regions of interest (ROIs) are chosen as points furthest away from the dashed line. In orange and blue, points are indicated that show an individual statistical difference (P < 0.05) when comparing the proliferation percentage of MCF7 vs. MCF10a. Orange or blue dots indicate an increase for either MCF7 or MCF10a proliferation, respectively. b , Points from a were grouped and show a significant different in both MCF10a and MCF7 Ki-67 positive cells percentage (p < 0.0001). c , Individual DOG values for each ROI chosen in a are shown. Corresponding fluorescence images for each ROI can be found in .

Article Snippet: Normal breast epithelial cells (MCF10a, Aldrich) were maintained in MCF10a Complete Medium (EP-ML-0525, Elabscience) containing 5 % horse serum, 20 ng mL −1 epidermal growth factor (EGF), 0.5 μg/mL hydrocortisone, 10 μg/mL insulin, 1 % non-essential amino acid solution (NEAA), and 1 % penicillin/streptomycin.

Techniques: Fluorescence

Journal: Bioactive Materials

Article Title: Harnessing the power of physicochemical material property screening to direct breast epithelial and breast cancer cells

doi: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2025.04.003

Figure Lengend Snippet: ROIs were chosen from the screening as “positive” when MCF10a Ki-67 % > MCF7 Ki-67 % (labelled as Pos1, Pos2, Pos3, shown in blue) and “negative” when MCF7 Ki-67 % > MCF10a Ki-67 % (labelled as Neg1, Neg2, Neg3, shown in orange). a , Cell experiments were repeated on translational (labelled as Trans) substrates with those specific material properties and compared to the proliferation (% Ki-67 positive cells after 72 h of cell culture) rates from the screening (Screen). b , Cell density after 72 h was compared between the screening and translation findings. c , Fluorescence images of two example ROIs, Pos1 and Neg1. Cells were stained for Ki-67 (red), phalloidin (green), and DAPI (blue). Corresponding fluorescence images for the other ROIs can be found in . The scale bar is 100 μm.

Article Snippet: Normal breast epithelial cells (MCF10a, Aldrich) were maintained in MCF10a Complete Medium (EP-ML-0525, Elabscience) containing 5 % horse serum, 20 ng mL −1 epidermal growth factor (EGF), 0.5 μg/mL hydrocortisone, 10 μg/mL insulin, 1 % non-essential amino acid solution (NEAA), and 1 % penicillin/streptomycin.

Techniques: Cell Culture, Fluorescence, Staining

Journal: Bioactive Materials

Article Title: Harnessing the power of physicochemical material property screening to direct breast epithelial and breast cancer cells

doi: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2025.04.003

Figure Lengend Snippet: Proliferation quantified as % Ki-67 positive cells after 72 h for both MCF7 and MCF10a cells compared between the translational cell experiments on translated ROIs for both low (shown in blue, 1000 cells cm −2 ) and high (shown in orange, 5000 cells cm −2 ) seeding density. a , Individual values for each ROI compared between low and high seeding density. b , All low and high seeding density datapoints from a were grouped and compared for statistical difference (n.s.: p > 0.05, ∗: p < 0.05).

Article Snippet: Normal breast epithelial cells (MCF10a, Aldrich) were maintained in MCF10a Complete Medium (EP-ML-0525, Elabscience) containing 5 % horse serum, 20 ng mL −1 epidermal growth factor (EGF), 0.5 μg/mL hydrocortisone, 10 μg/mL insulin, 1 % non-essential amino acid solution (NEAA), and 1 % penicillin/streptomycin.

Techniques:

Journal: Cell Communication and Signaling : CCS

Article Title: Interplay of the transcription factor MRTF-A and matrix stiffness controls mammary acinar structure and protrusion formation

doi: 10.1186/s12964-022-00977-2

Figure Lengend Snippet: Correlation of increasing matrix stiffness with protrusion formation of MCF10A acini. 3D cultures of MCF10A cells on the indicated Matrigel/Collagen I mixtures (100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75, 0:100) were analysed by microscopy. A Phalloidin (green), Laminin V (red) and nuclei (DAPI, blue) staining of acinar structures at day 4 after seeding on matrices with increasing Collagen I percentages. Arrowheads indicate protrusions. The corresponding increase of Young's elastic modulus of the matrix is depicted below. B Diameters of individual acini (diamonds) measured at day 4, day 8 and day 14. Black horizontal lines indicate mean diameter and SEM (whiskers) of three biologically independent replicates. C Quantification of protrusion formation at day 4, day 8 and day 14. At least 11 acini were assessed each day, the percentage of protrusion-positive acini calculated, and the entire experiment repeated 3 times. D Calculated roundness index of individual acini (diamonds). Statistical significance compared to acini formed on pure Matrigel was determined using a one-way ANOVA and the means for each time point. * p ≤ 0.05, ** p ≤ 0.01, ***p ≤ 0.001. Error bars , SEM ( n = 3). Scale bars , 50 μm

Article Snippet: For 3D culture MCF10A growth medium with 2% horse serum and 2% Matrigel (Corning) was used.

Techniques: Microscopy, Staining

Journal: Cell Communication and Signaling : CCS

Article Title: Interplay of the transcription factor MRTF-A and matrix stiffness controls mammary acinar structure and protrusion formation

doi: 10.1186/s12964-022-00977-2

Figure Lengend Snippet: Acinar protrusions are independent of composition but depend on stiffness of matrix. A , B , C Matrigel (MG) or collagen I (COL1) gels were thinly coated with collagen IV (COL4) or left uncoated (wo COL4) as indicated. Subsequently MCF10A cells were seeded on top and acinar diameter A and protrusion formation B was analysed 4 days post seeding. C Representative micrographs of acini stained with laminin V (red), actin filaments with phalloidin (green) and cell nuclei with DAPI (blue) on day 4 of acini morphogenesis. Arrowheads indicate protrusions. D , E , F MCF10A cells were seeded on pre-cast acrylamide gels with defined stiffness of 0.2 kPa and 4 kPa coated with Matrigel, respectively. Acini diameter D and average percentage of protruding acini ( E ) were determined 4, 8 and 14 days post seeding as before. F Representative micrographs of acini on day 4 after seeding on the matrix indicated. Statistical significance was determined by ANOVA using the means of 3 independent experiments, each analysing ≥ 22 acini per condition. G , H Relative mRNA expression of ACTA2 G and VIM H normalised to ALAS and GAPDH. Statistical significance according to an unpaired Student’s t -test ( n = 4). * p ≤ 0.05, ** p ≤ 0.01. Error bars , SEM. Scale bars , 50 μm

Article Snippet: For 3D culture MCF10A growth medium with 2% horse serum and 2% Matrigel (Corning) was used.

Techniques: Staining, Expressing

Journal: Cell Communication and Signaling : CCS

Article Title: Interplay of the transcription factor MRTF-A and matrix stiffness controls mammary acinar structure and protrusion formation

doi: 10.1186/s12964-022-00977-2

Figure Lengend Snippet: Implication of the MRTF-SRF pathway in stiffness-dependent acini morphogenesis. A Relative MRTF/SRF luciferase reporter activity in transiently transfected MCF10A seeded on Matrigel (MG) or collagen I (COLI) and analysed at day 3 of acini morphogenesis ( n = 4). B , C Effects of the Rho/MRTF/SRF pathway inhibitor CCG203971 (20 μM, day 4–8) on acini diameter and average percentage of protrusion-positive acini at day 8. Eleven or more acini were analysed per condition in 3 biologically independent replicates. B Individually measured acini diameter (diamond) and mean ± SEM (horizontal black line ± whiskers). C Percentage of protrusion formation. Significance was tested using an unpaired Student’s t-test. * p ≤ 0.05. Error bars , SEM

Article Snippet: For 3D culture MCF10A growth medium with 2% horse serum and 2% Matrigel (Corning) was used.

Techniques: Luciferase, Activity Assay, Transfection