Biomaterial-based platforms for tumour tissue engineering

Curvello, Rodrigo; Kast, Verena; Ordóñez-Morán, Paloma; Mata, Alvaro; Loessner, Daniela

Abstract

Tissue engineering has produced innovative tools for cancer research. 3D cancer models based on molecularly designed biomaterials aim to harness the dimensionality and biomechanical and biochemical properties of tumour tissues. However, to date, despite the critical role that the extracellular matrix plays in cancer, only a minority of 3D cancer models are built on biomaterial-based matrices. Major reasons for avoiding this critical design feature are the difficulty in recreating the inherent complexity of the tumour microenvironment and the limited availability of practical analytical and validation techniques. Recent advances emerging at the interface of supramolecular chemistry, materials science and tumour biology are generating new approaches to overcome these boundaries and enable the design of physiologically relevant 3D models. Here, we discuss how these 3D systems are applied to deconstruct and engineer the tumour microenvironment, opening opportunities to model primary tumours, metastasis and responses to anticancer treatment.

Citation

Curvello, R., Kast, V., Ordóñez-Morán, P., Mata, A., & Loessner, D. (2023). Biomaterial-based platforms for tumour tissue engineering. Nature Reviews Materials, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41578-023-00535-3

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jan 11, 2023
• Online Publication Date: Feb 14, 2023
• Publication Date: Feb 14, 2023
• Deposit Date: Feb 18, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Aug 15, 2023
• Journal: Nature Reviews Materials
• Print ISSN: 2058-8437
• Electronic ISSN: 2058-8437
• Publisher: Nature Research
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41578-023-00535-3
• Keywords: tissue engineering, biomaterials, tumor biology, 3D cancer models, tumor microenvironment, extracellular matrix
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/17386086
• Publisher URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41578-023-00535-3