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Embedded 3D Bioprinting for Engineering Miniaturized In Vitro Tumor Models
Maria V Monteiro1, Marta Rocha1, Vítor M Gaspar2
1Department of Chemistry, CICECO - Aveiro Institute of Materials, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal.
Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton, N.J.)
|February 23, 2024
Summary
A new 3D bioprinting method uses a special gel to create stable, complex 3D tumor models. This technique aids in developing new cancer therapies and disease modeling.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- 3D Bioprinting
- Tissue Engineering
Background:
- Embedded extrusion 3D bioprinting enables precise bioink deposition for fabricating living structures.
- Current methods face challenges in creating stable, complex 3D architectures for applications like disease modeling.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a novel suspension bioprinting methodology for fabricating architecturally complex 3D in vitro tumor models.
- To demonstrate the utility of a viscoelastic biopolymer supporting bath for enhanced biofabrication.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a continuous viscoelastic biopolymer supporting bath functionalized with divalent calcium cations.
- Employed freeform extrusion biofabrication to process user-defined bioinks into 3D constructs.
- Developed cell-laden 3D tumor-mimetic architectures with structural stability.
Main Results:
- Successfully fabricated structurally stable, cell-laden 3D tumor-mimetic architectures.
- The supporting bath demonstrated cytocompatibility and ease of removal post-printing.
- The method proved adaptable for processing various extracellular matrix-mimetic bioinks.
Conclusions:
- The described viscoelastic supporting bath facilitates cost-effective, freeform biofabrication of 3D tumor models.
- This approach offers a versatile platform for multi-scale fabrication of physiomimetic tumor models.
- The developed models hold potential for preclinical screening of therapeutic agents.
