Gold nanorods are widely studied for biological applications for imaging, drug and gene delivery, and photothermal therapy of cancer. In order to utilize these nanomaterials safely in the human body, it is imperative to investigate additional interactions between gold nanorods and cells. Few studies look at how these nanoparticles may affect cellular interactions with their three-dimensional surroundings. Nanoparticles in the body would not only come into contact with cells, but with extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins and secreted soluble proteins.We have mimicked the ECM of human breast cancer cells with three-dimensional collagen cell cultures. Nested gel matrices have allowed us to explore the effect of nanorods dispersed in the matrix on metastatic breast cancer cell migration. It was observed that gold nanorods in the ECM increase spontaneous cell migration. The mechanism behind this change in cell behavior is hypothesized to be due to differences in mechanical properties, diffusion of soluble factors, or physical blocking of cell-collagen interactions. We have examined the mechanics and structure of the gels themselves via rheology, confocal reflectance and scanning electron microscopy, and the diffusion of molecules via fluorescence recovery after photobleaching techniques. We have also looked for changes in cell morphology with brightfield and confocal fluorescence microscopy, the mechanism of movement with time-lapse microscopy and monitored the expression of matrix metalloproteinases and proteins involved in cell migration.

Gold nanorods in the extracellular matrix and their effect on cancer cell migration

248th National Meeting (2014)

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