2015 年 40 巻 2 号 p. 119-122
Three-dimensional encapsulation of a living human cervical cancer HeLa cell in a redox-active cytocompatible phospholipid polymer hydrogel and the regulation of cell functions with simple bioelectrical stimulation were investigated. A redox-active and cytocompatible polymer based on the water-soluble phospholipid polymer, poly(2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC)-co-n-butyl methacrylate (BMA)-co-p-vinylphenylboronic acid (VPBA)-co-vinylferrocene (VFc)) (PMBVF) was synthesized by conventional radical polymerization method. A HeLa-Fucci cell, a human cervical cancer HeLa cell stably expressing fluorescent ubiquitination-based cell cycle indicator (Fucci) were cultured and suspended into the medium, in which a PMBVF polymer were pre-dissolved with desired concentration. Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) solution was added to this PMBVF/HeLa-Fucci medium solution with gently mixing at room temperature, in which case, a reversible PMBVF/PVA hydrogel with encapsulated HeLa-Fucci cells was obtained. The morphologies of the PMBVF/PVA hydrogel and the three-dimensional encapsulated HeLa-Fucci cells were confirmed with microscopy. Cyclic voltammograms results indicated that PMBVF/PVA hydrogel still had excellent electrochemical properties even in the presence of living HeLa-Fucci cells. A constant voltage (0.4 V vs. Ag/AgCl) was applied to the extracellular environment of encapsulated cells as electrical stimulation and the cell cycle progression was calculated base on the analysis of fluorescent images. Compared with that without electrical stimulation, a delay of the cell cycle progression could be observed between 8 h and 18 h while the cells were encapsulated in the hydrogel with electrical stimulation. The investigation of cell functions based on a three-dimensional electrical stimulation with a redox-active cytocompatible phospholipid polymer hydrogel will promote the development of electrochemical therapy of cancer and tumor.
