title: Nanochips of Tantalum Oxide Nanodots as artificial-microenvironments for monitoring Ovarian cancer progressiveness.
abstract: Nanotopography modulates cell characteristics and cell behavior. Nanotopological cues can be exploited to investigate the in-vivo modulation of cell characteristics by the cellular microenvironment. However, the studies explaining the modulation of tumor cell characteristics and identifying the transition step in cancer progressiveness are scarce. Here, we engineered nanochips comprising of Tantalum oxide nanodot arrays of 10, 50, 100 and 200 nm as artificial microenvironments to study the modulation of cancer cell behavior. Clinical samples of different types of Ovarian cancer at different stages were obtained, primary cultures were established and then seeded on different nanochips. Immunofluorescence (IF) was performed to compare the morphologies and cell characteristics. Indices corresponding to cell characteristics were defined. A statistical comparison of the cell characteristics in response to the nanochips was performed. The cells displayed differential growth parameters. Morphology, Viability, focal adhesions, microfilament bundles and cell area were modulated by the nanochips which can be used as a measure to study the cancer progressiveness. The ease of fabrication of nanochips ensures mass-production. The ability of the nanochips to act as artificial microenvironments and modulate cell behavior may lead to further prospects in the markerless monitoring of the progressiveness and ultimately, improving the prognosis of Ovarian cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 1001 University Road, Hsinchu, Taiwan, 300, ROC.
authors.forename: Udesh
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Dhawan
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 1001 University Road, Hsinchu, Taiwan, 300, ROC.
authors.forename: Ssu-Meng
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 1001 University Road, Hsinchu, Taiwan, 300, ROC.
authors.forename: Ying Hao
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.affiliation: Hokan Life Technology, F2, 793 Fu-Ke Road, Taichung, Taiwan, 402, ROC.
authors.forename: Guewha S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan.|School of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.|School of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan, 402, ROC.
authors.forename: Yan Ren
authors.initials: YR
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan, 404, ROC.
authors.forename: Yao Ching
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Hung
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Science and Technology, National Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, 1001 University Road, Hsinchu, Taiwan 300, ROC.
authors.forename: Wen Liang
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D022001:Focal Adhesions / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D056656:Lab-On-A-Chip Devices; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000295:instrumentation*; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010087:Oxides / Q000737:chemistry; D061251:Primary Cell Culture; D013635:Tantalum / Q000737:chemistry; D059016:Tumor Microenvironment
chemical_list: D010087:Oxides; D013635:Tantalum; C078151:tantalum oxide