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Mechanobiology

Clinical doses of radiation reduce collagen matrix stiffness

AUTHORS

Miller JPJoseph P , Borde BHBrandon H , Bordeleau FFrancois , Zanotelli MRMatthew R , LaValley DJDanielle J , Parker DJDylan J , Bonassar LJLawrence J , Pannullo SCSusan C , Reinhart-King CACynthia A . APL bioengineering. 2018 4 3; 2(3). 031901

ABSTRACT

Cells receive mechanical cues from their extracellular matrix (ECM), which direct migration, differentiation, apoptosis, and in some cases, the transition to a cancerous phenotype. As a result, there has been significant research to develop methods to tune the mechanical properties of the ECM and understand cell-ECM dynamics more deeply. Here, we show that ionizing radiation can reduce the stiffness of an tumor and an collagen matrix. When non-irradiated cancer cells were seeded in the irradiated matrix, adhesion, spreading, and migration were reduced. These data have ramifications for both and systems. , these data suggest that irradiation may be a method that could be used to create matrices with tailored mechanical properties. , these suggest that therapeutic doses of radiation may alter tissue mechanics directly.