3D bioprinted mammary organoids and tumoroids in human mammary derived ECM hydrogels

The extracellular matrix (ECM) of tissues is an important mediator of cell function. Moreover, understanding cellular dynamics within their specific tissue context is also important for developmental biology, cancer research, and regenerative medicine. However, robust in vitro models that incorporate tissue-specific microenvironments are lacking. Here we describe a novel mammary-specific culture protocol that combines a self-gelling hydrogel comprised solely of ECM from decellularized rat or human breast tissue with the use of our previously described 3D bioprinting platform. We initially demonstrate that undigested and decellularized mammary tissue can support mammary epithelial and tumor cell growth. We then describe a methodology for generating mammary ECM extracts that can spontaneously gel to form hydrogels. These ECM hydrogels retain unique structural and signaling profiles that elicit differential responses when normal mammary and breast cancer cells are cultured within them. Using our bioprinter, we establish that we can generate large organoids/tumoroids in the all mammary-derived hydrogel. These findings demonstrate that our system allows for growth of organoids/tumoroids in a tissue-specific matrix with unique properties, thus providing a suitable platform for ECM and epithelial/cancer cell studies. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Factors within extracellular matrices (ECMs) are specific to their tissue of origin. It has been shown that tissue specific factors within the mammary gland's ECM have pronounced effects on cellular differentiation and cancer behavior. Understanding the role of the ECM in controlling cell fate has major implications for developmental biology, tissue engineering, and cancer therapy. However, in vitro models to study cellular interactions with tissue specific ECM are lacking. Here we describe the generation of 3D hydrogels consisting solely of human or mouse mammary ECM. We demonstrate that these novel 3D culture substrates can sustain large 3D bioprinted organoid and tumoroid formation. This is the first demonstration of an all mammary ECM culture system capable of sustaining large structural growths.