In Vitro Model for Evaluation of Cancer Cell Proliferative Activity under Simulated Acidosis and Using Chitosan Microparticles

Abstract

This investigation provides experimental data related to the development of a useful in vitro model allowing for a deeper analysis of invasive (metastatic) cancer cells using the effect of forced acidosis on the behavior of an epithelial colon cancer cell line. The results demonstrate that incubation in the medium with different pH values, adjusted by hydrochloric or lactic acids, increased more than 20 fold the proliferative activity of cancer cells at 48 h of incubation without affecting their cell viability. The newly synthesized chitosan micro-formulations were tested as a potential system for the screening of cancer progression, based on the attachment of cancer cells to the chitosan surface, without radically disturbing their viability. The latter could allow us to develop a versatile and useful in vitro model for the detailed investigation of the biological and molecular biochemical processes of invasive (metastatic) cancer cells.