2026-10-13T20:08:07Z https://api.figshare.com/v2/oai

oai:figshare.com:article/33979354 2026-09-24T04:30:28Z category_388 portal_316 item_type_3 month_year_09_2026

Supplementary file 1_Reduced graphene oxide-incorporated gelatin-oxidized polymannose scaffold-based 3D Lung cancer model for mimicking the tumor microenvironment.docx Hema Priya Manivannan (24419403) Vishnu Priya Veeraraghavan (6045953) K. P. Ameya (25101838) Durairaj Sekar (2396494) Arul Prakash Francis (12985082) Oncology and Carcinogenesis not elsewhere classified 3D culture gene expression hypoxia lung cancer scaffold tumor microenvironment Objective<p>The tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a critical role in regulating cancer progression, metastasis, and therapeutic response. Conventional two-dimensional (2D) culture systems fail to accurately recapitulate the complex native TME, highlighting the need for physiologically relevant three-dimensional (3D) in vitro models. In our previous work we have developed gelatin–oxidized polymannose–reduced graphene oxide (Gel: OPM:rGO) scaffold as a 3D lung cancer culture model. In this study, we aimed to assess its potential to support TME-associated responses compared with conventional 2D and Matrigel-based 3D culture systems.</p>Materials and methods<p>A549 cells cultured on the Gel: OPM:rGO scaffold were analyzed for the secretion of growth factors and inflammatory cytokines by ELISA, the expression of TME-associated and signaling pathway-related genes by qRT-PCR, and TME-associated proteins by Western blotting. Metabolic profiling was performed by measuring glucose consumption and lactate production and the results were compared with 2D and Matrigel culture systems.</p>Results<p>Gene expression analysis revealed the upregulation of TME-associated genes, including the hypoxia marker VEGF-A, the extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling marker MMP9, the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) marker VIM, the oncogenic marker ALK, and the growth factor receptor EGFR. Western blot analysis showed increased expression of TME-related proteins in the Gel: OPM:rGO scaffold compared with conventional 2D culture. Major signaling pathways, including mTOR, PI3K/AKT, Wnt, c-Myc, STAT3, and TNF-α, were also modulated, indicating physiologically relevant cellular responses. Metabolic profiling in Gel: OPM:rGO culture supernatant demonstrated enhanced glucose consumption and lactate production, consistent with the Warburg effect and tumor-associated metabolic reprogramming. Overall, gene and protein expression profiles in the Gel: OPM:rGO scaffold exhibited trends similar to those observed in Matrigel-based 3D culture.</p>Conclusion<p>Collectively, these findings demonstrate that the Gel: OPM:rGO scaffold is a robust and physiologically relevant 3D lung cancer model. As a potential 3D culture platform that complements Matrigel-based models, it provides a valuable in vitro platform for investigating tumor-associated cellular and molecular responses, cancer progression, and preclinical anticancer drug evaluation.</p> 2026-09-24T04:30:28Z Dataset Dataset 10.3389/fonc.2026.1955340.s001 https://figshare.com/articles/dataset/Supplementary_file_1_Reduced_graphene_oxide-incorporated_gelatin-oxidized_polymannose_scaffold-based_3D_Lung_cancer_model_for_mimicking_the_tumor_microenvironment_docx/33979354 CC BY 4.0