3D bioprinting - placement of cells, grown into 3D space, into spatially-defined patterns to study breast cancer cell and adipose tissue interactions
3x4 array of breast cancer cells encapsulated in alginate/collagen microbeads deposited into alginate-gelatin matrix.
Z-stack projections showing bead (red-labeled cancer cells) integration with 3D adipocyte-ladened matrix (green cells) volume.
3x3 array of MDA-MB-231 (red) and MCF-7 (green) breast cancer cells encapsulated in hydrogel beads that were printed into a alginate-gelatin matrix of normal (412) and high (313) BMI adipocytes (blue).
A hallmark characteristic of breast cancer cells is rapid proliferation and aberrant invasion, fueled by hijacking adipose endocrine and energy regulation functions. Isolating the bi-directional crosstalk between adipocytes and cancer cells from other stromal components necessitates engineering physiologically-relevant in vitro tissue models. A spatially-defined, 3D co-culture system of differentiated human adipose cells and breast cancer cells was generated by Laser Direct-Write. Breast cancer cells, encapsulated in alginate-collagen microbeads, were deposited in a bead-by-bead manner into a matrix of differentiated adipocytes.