Northern Institute for Cancer Research, Medical School, Newcastle University, Paul O'Gorman Building, Framlington Place, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4HH, UK.
Soft Matter. 2016 May 7;12(17):3841-8. doi: 10.1039/c6sm00513f. Epub 2016 Apr 15.
Hyaluronan, a glycosaminoglycan, abundant in the tumour microenvironment, is a key player in many processes associated with cancer. Recently the cancer resistance of the naked mole rat has been attributed to the presence of an ultra-high molecular weight form of this molecule. The physical properties of this multifunctional biopolymer have been extensively studied in the context of synovial joints. However, relatively little has been reported with regard to the soft matter properties of hyaluronan in relation to cancer. In this review we examine the role of hyaluronan in cancer, paying particular attention to its mechanical interactions with malignant cells and its soft matter properties. In addition we discuss the use of hyaluronan based gels to study cancer invasion as well as nanoparticle based strategies for disease treatment.
透明质酸是一种糖胺聚糖，在肿瘤微环境中丰富，是与癌症相关的许多过程的关键参与者。最近，裸鼹鼠的癌症抗性归因于这种分子的超高分子量形式的存在。这种多功能生物聚合物的物理性质在滑液关节的背景下得到了广泛的研究。然而，关于透明质酸与癌症相关的软物质性质的报道相对较少。在这篇综述中，我们研究了透明质酸在癌症中的作用，特别关注它与恶性细胞的机械相互作用及其软物质性质。此外，我们还讨论了使用基于透明质酸的凝胶来研究癌症侵袭以及基于纳米粒子的疾病治疗策略。
