Researchers at Rice University have pioneered a revolutionary system resembling the lotus leaf to study cancer cell clusters, potentially unlocking critical insights into metastasis and cancer progression.
In a breakthrough development, bioengineers at Rice University have revolutionized the field of cancer research by harnessing the “lotus effect” — a self-cleaning, water-repellent characteristic of lotus leaves — to create a cutting-edge system for culturing cancer cell clusters.
The innovative system, crafted from a zinc oxide-based surface, mimics the unique texture of the lotus leaf, complete with nanosized ridges and folds that trap air and repel water. This new platform, known as the Superhydrophobic Array Device (SHArD), enables the high-throughput generation of three-dimensional nanoscale tumor models.
The SHArD device, designed by Michael King and his team, aims to shed light on the elusive properties of tumor progression and metastasis.
“The study of metastasis — the leading cause of cancer deaths — poses a particular challenge in part due to the difficulty of developing accurate, high-throughput models,” King, the E.D. Butcher Chair of Bioengineering & CPRIT Scholar at Rice University and corresponding author of a study published in ACS Nano, said in a news release. “We hope this tool will unlock new knowledge about this problematic stage of the disease and help us identify ways to intervene in order to stop or prevent it from happening.”
Traditionally, scientists rely on blood samples containing circulating tumor cells to understand primary tumors and cancer metastasis. However, these “liquid biopsy” samples often fail to provide a sufficient number of cells for large-scale studies.
“‘Safety in numbers’ unfortunately also applies to cancer cells circulating in the bloodstream,” Alexandria Carter, a doctoral student and researcher in the King lab who co-authored the study, said in the news release. “Cancer cells traveling alone are more likely to succumb to shear stress destruction or immune cell attacks. However, when they travel in groups, the likelihood that they successfully reach and settle in other parts of the body increases.”
The King lab’s journey toward SHArD began in 2018 when postdoctoral fellow Kalana Jayawardana experimented with growing zinc oxide nanorod surfaces. Initially driven by curiosity, the project evolved under the guidance of doctoral student Maria Lopez-Cavestany. With a stable “carpet” of zinc oxide nanotubes topped with a Teflon-like coating, they successfully recreated the superhydrophobic properties of the lotus leaf.
“SHArD is ready to use in biomedical research,” added Carter. “Any lab with clean room access can follow our protocols and create versions of this platform that meet the exact needs of their specific research projects.”
Originally intended for culturing primary tumor models, SHArD can also be adapted to study metastatic clusters. This flexibility opens new avenues for research, as the device enables labs to create superhydrophobic culturing environments without needing specialized equipment.
“The cluster-forming device has opened the door to new areas of research into the dangerous clusters found in the bloodstream of late-stage cancer patients,” King added.
The research, supported by the National Institutes of Health, promises to be a game-changer in understanding and potentially preventing cancer metastasis, a crucial step towards improved cancer treatment and survival rates.