Research:

Recent findings have shown that cells often exhibit different behaviour when they are separated from their native three dimensional (3D) tissues and confined to a monolayer cell cultures (2D). The development of complex synthetic 3D cell culture models, which can mimic the native extracellular matrix, represent an important step towards a more in vivo-like cell culture system.

In my project, we are working on the development of a unique 3D cell culture model using different types of polymers such as polycaprolactone (PCL) and polylactide (PLA). A modified electrospinning method is utilized to fabricate highly porous 3D nanofiber scaffolds, mimicking the collagen fibres of the extracellular matrix. We also investigate the proliferation and migration of primarily various breast cancer cell lines and other cells such as fibroblasts, immune cells and co-culture of such cells in randomly-oriented and aligned fibre scaffolds. The effect of different new anti-cancer compounds on the cancer cells and cancer stem cells proliferation and migration will be investigated as well.

Beside using 3D systems as excellent alternative in vivo models, we are replacing medium supplemented with donor horse serum instead of the commonly used but animal ethically questionable fetal calf serum in this project. Our goal is to contribute to 3R principles (replacing, refining and reducing the use of animals) in cancer research in future.