Magnetic Hydrogel Based on Magnetic Nanoparticle Assemblies Providing a Platform for Multicellular Spheroids with High Expression of Glioma Tumor Stem Cell Related Markers

Tumor stem cell (TSC) was one of the research hotspots in tumor diagnostics. However, cells with high expression of TSCs-related markers were rare when they were cultured in 2D models. It is important to build in vitro tumor models to enhance the proliferation of cells with TSCs related markers. In this study, the magnetic hydrogel based on magnetic nanoparticle assemblies was applied as the substrate for glioma tumor cell (U251) culture. Tumor cells on the surface of this composite material preferred to form multicellular spheroids through adhesion, migration and emergence. The enhanced expression of TSCs markers indicated the enrichment of TSCs and the stem cell characters of U251 cells cultured on magnetic hydrogel which were further confirmed by drug resistance assay. This composite might provide a valuable platform for TSCs-relative mechanism research and anti-cancer treatment.