ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the biomaterials used in cancer research that span the areas of cancer invasion, cancer imaging, and cancer treatment. Biomaterials play an important role in treating cancers by assisting in administering small molecules, genes, and peptides using nano-formulations, including liposomes, micelles, and dendrimers. Matrigel—the gelatinous protein mixture secreted by Engelbreth-Holm-Swarm mouse sarcoma cells that polymerize to form a gel at 37°—represents one of the earliest biomaterials used for studying cancer invasion. Biomaterials for cancer imaging range from polymeric nanomaterials decorated with ligands to biologically stable protein nanoparticles to image deep-set tumors. Tagging therapeutic effects to the nanoparticles has enabled simultaneous imaging and treatment of cancer. Detrimental and prolonged side effects of chemotherapy paved way for an alternative strategy for treating cancers. To delineate the cellular and molecular mechanism of cancer, several studies have been carried out by culturing the monolayer of cancer cells.
