Bioprinted Multicomponent Hydrogel Co-culture Tumor-Immune Model for Assessing and Simulating Tumor-Infiltrated Lymphocyte Migration and Functional Activation

Abstract

The immune response against a tumor is characterized by the interplay among components of the immune system and neoplastic cells. Here, we bioprinted a model with two distinct regions containing gastric cancer patient-derived organoids (PDOs) and tumor-infiltrated lymphocytes (TILs). The initial cellular distribution allows for the longitudinal study of TIL migratory patterns concurrently with multiplexed cytokine analysis. The chemical properties of the bioink were designed to present physical barriers that immune T-cells must breech during infiltration and migration toward a tumor with the use of an alginate, gelatin, and basal membrane mix. TIL activity, degranulation, and regulation of proteolytic activity reveal insights into the time-dependent biochemical dynamics. Regulation of the sFas and sFas-ligand present on PDOs and TILs, respectively, and the perforin and granzyme longitudinal secretion confirms TIL activation when encountering PDO formations. TIL migratory profiles were used to create a deterministic reaction–advection diffusion model. The simulation provides insights that decouple passive from active cell migration mechanisms. The mechanisms used by TILs and other adoptive cell therapeutics as they infiltrate the tumor barrier are poorly understood. This study presents a pre-screening strategy for immune cells where motility and activation across ECM environments are crucial indicators of cellular fitness.

Advancement in Cancer Vasculogenesis Modeling through 3D Bioprinting Technology

“…More recently, advancements in three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting present promising ways to overcome these limitations [18][19][20]. To develop cancer vasculogenesis models, this study aims to provide an in-depth understanding of the subject, emphasize the significance of appropriate modeling, and compare conventional methods with the cutting-edge potential of 3D bioprinting technology [16,[21][22][23]. Recent advancements of 3D bioprinting offers a promising solution to conventional hurdles such as the formation of stable and perfusable blood vessels in vitro, as it enables precise control over the spatial arrangement of cells, biomaterials, and signaling molecules [24,25].…”