Characterization of mineral depositions during osteosarcoma cell differentiation by high resolution X-rays nanodiffraction

The main aim of this proposal is to study how the osteblasic differentiation stimuli affect the maturation process of mineral depositions released by osteosarcoma SaOS2 cells at 4 and 10 days after osteoblastic induction. To this purpose we will use x-ray scanning nano-diffraction at a spatial resolution down to 50 nm. This will allow to visualise and evaluate the genesis of nano-sized-mineral depositions and collagen fibrils produced by osteosarcoma cells. This study will contribute to unveil the genesis of bone mineralization process in osteosarcoma which is still far from being elucidated. Moreover, this research is a part of a larger project aimed at validating a new anticancer strategy based on the differentiation of osteosarcoma cells towards a less aggressive phenotype. The application of this strategy will be fundamental to improve the chance to translate the new knowledge to osteosarcoma clinical practice and treatment.

本研究提案的核心目标为探究成骨细胞分化刺激因子，在成骨诱导后第4天与第10天，对骨肉瘤SaOS2细胞所释放的矿化沉积产物的成熟过程产生的影响。为此，本研究将采用空间分辨率低至50纳米的X射线扫描纳米衍射（X-ray scanning nano-diffraction）技术，该技术可实现骨肉瘤细胞所产生的纳米级矿化沉积与胶原纤维的可视化观察与形成过程解析。本研究将助力阐明骨肉瘤中骨矿化过程的发生机制——目前该机制仍未被完全阐释清楚。此外，本研究隶属于一项更大规模的科研项目，该项目旨在验证一项基于骨肉瘤细胞向低侵袭表型分化的新型抗癌策略。该策略的落地应用，将为推动该研究成果向骨肉瘤临床诊疗实践转化提供关键支撑。