Doctoral Defence of Maria Heilala
- Jan 30
- 1 min read
Maria Heilala defended her doctoral dissertation on Friday, 30.1.2026, at Aalto University.
Title of the thesis: Hydrogel-based 3D culture systems for modeling breast cancer
Opponent: Prof. João F. Mano, University of Aveiro, Portugal
Supervisor: Prof. Olli Ikkala, Aalto University School of Science
The summary of the thesis: Breast cancer is the most common cancer type in women and a significant cause of cancer-related death. Treatment of advanced breast cancer remains challenging, as cancer cells alter their own behavior and the function of immune cells during cancer progression. Hydrogel-based 3D culture models enable the study of these phenomena in the laboratory.
In this doctoral thesis work, 3D culture models based on human- and plant-derived hydrogels were established for breast cancer research. Proteins from human blood were used to prepare mechanically tunable fibrin gels, which were used to model circulating tumor cell adaptation from liquid to a matrix environment. In addition, wood-derived nanocellulose gels with adjustable stiffness and surface chemistry were used to model immunosuppressive immune cell phenotypes in tumors.
The thesis demonstrates that tunable, animal-free hydrogels can be used to model various processes contributing to breast cancer progression. The findings also advance the understanding of cell-matrix interactions, which can be utilized to develop more diverse 3D culture models for breast cancer research and drug discovery.
The thesis will be available at: Hydrogel-based 3D culture systems for modeling breast cancer
