Collagen gel as a 3D in vitro tissue model for ameloblastoma studies

Ameloblastoma is a rare locally invasive epithelial odontogenic tumour of the jaw which can cause significant and debilitating bone destruction. In vitro studies of ameloblastoma are sparse in the literature, and little is known regarding patterns of ameloblastoma cell growth and invasion, as well as relevant gene and protein expression. This study aims to (i) use plastic-compressed collagen gels as a robust and relevant biomimetic to culture ameloblastoma cells in a 3D in vitro tissue model [1] and (ii) perform histology, immunohistochemistry (IHC) and gene expression assays to characterise tissue remodelling, cell growth and invasiveness.