Development of customized bioinks for 3D printed dynamic cancer models

There is an unmet need for monitorable cancer models that better represent the complex native environment found in human tissues. The development of solid tumor micromodels based on printed decellularized extracellular matrices (dECMs) offers a step in this direction, with the biomolecule-rich matrix of dECM inks allowing cell growth in a three-dimensional (3D) and natural environment. To this aim, a catalogue of biocompatible inks was prepared via chemical, mechanical and enzymatic processes. Printability was confirmed by both printing and rheological assessment and inks were combined to build complex 3D models. Representative of either skin or breast tissue, the models can be characterized using different imaging techniques. Results suggest that such in vitro 3D microtissues can be used as a powerful tool in tissue engineering and disease modeling to better understand cellular behavior and drug responses.