High-Throughput 3D Glioblastoma Model in Glycosaminoglycan Hydrogels for Personalized Therapeutic Screening

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Rajvinder Kaur Trautmann - , Neuron D GmbH, Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden (Author)
  • Nicholas Dennison - , Neuron D GmbH, Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden (Author)
  • Kathleen McCortney - , Northwestern University (Author)
  • Solveig Klier - , Neuron D GmbH, Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden (Author)
  • Mehmet Ilyas Cosacak - , German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) - Partner Site Dresden (Author)
  • Carsten Werner - , Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden (Author)
  • Goktug Akyoldas - , Koc University (Author)
  • Craig M. Horbinski - , Northwestern University (Author)
  • Uwe Freudenberg - , Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden (Author)
  • Caghan Kizil - , Columbia University (Author)

Abstract

Glioblastoma (GBM) is a devastating brain tumor with limited treatment success, partly because in vitro models poorly mimic in vivo complexity. This study introduces a high-throughput 3D culture platform utilizing modular starPEG–glycosaminoglycan (GAG) hydrogels that enable independent control of extracellular matrix (ECM) cues: stiffness, cytokine affinity, matrix metalloproteinase-responsive remodeling, and cell adhesiveness via integrin-binding RGD peptides. This platform supports encapsulation of patient-derived GBM cells, recreates physiologically relevant tumor microenvironments in 384-well plates, and enables automated drug testing on primary cells. Transcriptomic analyses show that 3D cultures recapitulate primary and recurrent GBM programs- including hypoxia-, immune-, and ECM-regulatory pathways driving growth, invasion, and resistance, without externally imposed hypoxia. The platform's versatility extends to drug screening, where single and combinatorial treatments produce reproducible cytoskeletal and transcriptomic responses. Notably, the system revealed dose-dependent reductions in invasive filaments and spheroid architecture with 5-fluorouracil/uridine and carmustine, demonstrating its potential for optimizing combinatorial therapies. This 3D model surpasses 2D cultures, capturing tumor-specific molecular programs and offering a robust tool for translational research. Despite lacking vascular or immune components, its tunability, scalability, and clinical relevance make it a strong basis for advanced co-cultures. By delivering reliable, individualized therapeutic data within a short timeframe, this model holds transformative potential for personalized GBM treatment.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere00394
JournalMacromolecular bioscience
Volume26
Issue number1
Publication statusPublished - Jan 2026
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 41536151
ORCID /0000-0003-0189-3448/work/204614075

Keywords

Keywords

  • bioengineered tumor microenvironment, Glioblastoma, high-throughput screening, patient-derived cells, personalized medicine, starPEG-heparin hydrogel