PhD Student The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel
Introduction: Solid tumors are characterized by a hostile microenvironment where hypoxia (low oxygen) acts as a critical driver of therapy resistance and metastatic progression. Hypoxia limits the efficacy of radiotherapy by reducing reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and altering DNA repair mechanisms. Beyond biochemical changes, cancer cells exhibit distinct biomechanical traits—such as altered stiffness and membrane fluidity—that influence their ability to internalize particles. This study hypothesizes that hypoxia and irradiation synergistically remodel cancer cell mechanics, thereby modulating drug sensitivity and nanoparticle uptake capacity.
Learning Objectives:
Evaluate hypoxia-induced changes in cancer cell stiffness and membrane fluidity.
Compare radiotherapy resistance between 2D monolayer and 3D spheroid cancer models
Assess the impact of biomechanical remodeling on nanoparticle uptake in hypoxic tumors.
