# Wheat Bran Polymer Scaffolds: Supporting Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cell Growth and Development

## TL;DR

This paper explores using wheat bran polymers to create scaffolds that support the growth of aggressive breast cancer cells, offering a new platform for cancer research.

## Contribution

The novel use of wheat bran arabinoxylan-based scaffolds to study triple-negative breast cancer cell behavior is introduced.

## Key findings

- WBAX-based scaffolds supported the growth and development of TNBC cells over 21 days.
- Cell migration and hypoxic region formation within cell clumps were observed in the scaffolds.
- The scaffolds offer a promising platform for studying cancer cell biology and therapies.

## Abstract

Arabinoxylans (AX) are functional biopolymers, the main non-starch polysaccharides in cereals and other plants. AX is composed of xylose and arabinose, and the ester-linkage of ferulic acid to arabinose confers its bioactive properties. The backbone of AX resembles that of glycosaminoglycans, a major component of the human extracellular matrix. This study explores the potential of wheat bran AX-based scaffolds as a novel platform for the growth and development of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells, an aggressive form of breast cancer. Importantly, patients face the worst prognosis due to the stemness of the TNBC cells and the formation of hypoxic cell clumps. Wheat bran constitutes 15–25% of the byproducts after milling and adds limited economic value. We have extracted AX from wheat bran (WBAX) and developed soft scaffolds with Na-alginate. The scaffolds were seeded with the triple-negative breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231. Over 21 days, cell growth and development, cell migration within the hydrogels, and the formation of hypoxic regions within cell clumps were observed. These findings suggest that WBAX-based scaffolds provide a conducive environment for TNBC cell proliferation and development, offering a promising avenue for further research into cancer cell biology and potential therapeutic applications.