Development and characterization of gelatin-based scaffolds for 3D cancer cell culture

Bahar Yılmaz; Esra Armağan; Mukaddes Keskinates; Ziya Aydın; Mevlüt Bayrakcı

doi:10.59313/jsr-a.1614353

Development and characterization of gelatin-based scaffolds for 3D cancer cell culture

Abstract

Two-dimensional (2D) cell culture is a commonly utilized method in laboratories for growing and maintaining cells, particularly in cancer research under controlled conditions. A critical factor in cancer cell culture is preserving cell viability and functionality, as cancer cells are highly sensitive to changes in their environment. However, the three-dimensional (3D) structure of tumors cannot be effectively replicated in 2D cell culture. In contrast, 3D cell culture provides significant advantages over traditional 2D systems, primarily by cultivating cancer cells in an environment that more accurately resembles the 3D architecture and complexity of tumors in vivo. This study is designed to develop cancer-specific gelatin-based scaffolds for developing a 3D (spheroid) culture model. These scaffolds were prepared reproducibly using pig skin gelatin, cold-water fish gelatin, and bovine skin gelatin. Phytagel and agarose-based gels (control groups) were used for comparison. The scaffold structures were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). MCF-7, HeLa, and HT-29 cancer cells were seeded on gelatin substrates and imaged by inverted microscopy. FT-IR analysis showed that the scaffolds were successfully prepared, while SEM analysis showed that the scaffolds were highly porous. The cancer cell lines were successfully grown on scaffolds and were shown to aggregate to form spherical structures. In this study, for the first time, 3D structures were generated from monolayer cell structures by using different gelatin structures. Many 3D cell studies will benefit from the fact that the resulting gelatin scaffolds are biocompatible and support infiltration and proliferation.

Keywords

Ethical Statement

This study does not require study-specific approval by the appropriate ethics committee for research involving human subjects and/or animals.

Thanks

We would like to thank Karamanoğlu Mehmetbey University Scientific Research Projects Commission for supporting this project numbered 06-M-23.

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Biomaterial

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Bahar Yılmaz ^*
0000-0002-6315-3018
Türkiye

Esra Armağan
0000-0002-5414-2392
Türkiye

Mukaddes Keskinates
0000-0002-1799-7180
Türkiye

Ziya Aydın
0000-0001-8074-9510
Türkiye

Mevlüt Bayrakcı
0000-0002-0416-2870
Türkiye

Publication Date

June 30, 2025

Submission Date

January 6, 2025

Acceptance Date

April 28, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Number: 061

DOI

https://doi.org/10.59313/jsr-a.1614353

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA82YG37NM

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Yılmaz, B., Armağan, E., Keskinates, M., Aydın, Z., & Bayrakcı, M. (2025). Development and characterization of gelatin-based scaffolds for 3D cancer cell culture. Journal of Scientific Reports-A, 061, 60-72. https://doi.org/10.59313/jsr-a.1614353

AMA

1.Yılmaz B, Armağan E, Keskinates M, Aydın Z, Bayrakcı M. Development and characterization of gelatin-based scaffolds for 3D cancer cell culture. JSR-A. 2025;(061):60-72. doi:10.59313/jsr-a.1614353

Chicago

Yılmaz, Bahar, Esra Armağan, Mukaddes Keskinates, Ziya Aydın, and Mevlüt Bayrakcı. 2025. “Development and Characterization of Gelatin-Based Scaffolds for 3D Cancer Cell Culture”. Journal of Scientific Reports-A, nos. 061: 60-72. https://doi.org/10.59313/jsr-a.1614353.

EndNote

Yılmaz B, Armağan E, Keskinates M, Aydın Z, Bayrakcı M (June 1, 2025) Development and characterization of gelatin-based scaffolds for 3D cancer cell culture. Journal of Scientific Reports-A 061 60–72.

IEEE

[1]B. Yılmaz, E. Armağan, M. Keskinates, Z. Aydın, and M. Bayrakcı, “Development and characterization of gelatin-based scaffolds for 3D cancer cell culture”, JSR-A, no. 061, pp. 60–72, June 2025, doi: 10.59313/jsr-a.1614353.

ISNAD

Yılmaz, Bahar - Armağan, Esra - Keskinates, Mukaddes - Aydın, Ziya - Bayrakcı, Mevlüt. “Development and Characterization of Gelatin-Based Scaffolds for 3D Cancer Cell Culture”. Journal of Scientific Reports-A. 061 (June 1, 2025): 60-72. https://doi.org/10.59313/jsr-a.1614353.

JAMA

1.Yılmaz B, Armağan E, Keskinates M, Aydın Z, Bayrakcı M. Development and characterization of gelatin-based scaffolds for 3D cancer cell culture. JSR-A. 2025;:60–72.

MLA

Yılmaz, Bahar, et al. “Development and Characterization of Gelatin-Based Scaffolds for 3D Cancer Cell Culture”. Journal of Scientific Reports-A, no. 061, June 2025, pp. 60-72, doi:10.59313/jsr-a.1614353.

Vancouver

1.Bahar Yılmaz, Esra Armağan, Mukaddes Keskinates, Ziya Aydın, Mevlüt Bayrakcı. Development and characterization of gelatin-based scaffolds for 3D cancer cell culture. JSR-A. 2025 Jun. 1;(061):60-72. doi:10.59313/jsr-a.1614353