3D printed structures to isolate tumor cells

A biomedical research team from the University of Girona in Spain has developed a method to separate breast cancer stem cells using 3D–printed circuits. This breakthrough is expected to enhance the analysis of breast cancer cells and aid in creating pharmaceutical therapies aimed at lowering the chances of relapse in patients.

Triple-negative breast cancer is an aggressive subtype of breast cancer that is more likely to recur than other types of disease (20-30% of patients end up needing multiple treatments). This disease recurrence is the result of cancer cells remaining in the body even after chemotherapy or radiation therapy.

By isolating triple-negative breast cancer stem cells, researchers at the University of Girona aim to facilitate the development of drugs that directly and exclusively attack cancer cells, without destroying the body’s healthy cells. «A tumor is composed of different types of cells and these are the cells that we have in small proportions. Therefore, it is complicated to locate these cells within the tumor,» explained Teresa Puig, director of the Oncology Unit of the Group for the Study of New Therapeutic Targets.

Therefore, researchers were able to successfully isolate breast cancer cells using a 3D printed scaffold structure. In the development phase, the team generated a set of 27 scaffold configurations, using the Teguchi experimental design method. In practice, the structures were created by playing with different printing parameters, including layer height, infill density, infill pattern, infill direction and flow.

3D printed structures to isolate tumor cells

Joaquim de Ciurama, director of the Product, Process and Production Engineering Research Group, explains: «This structure is a network built on the basis of a series of parameters – such as porosities, spaces and the distance between two elements – and is capable of allowing cells to remain or not on the matrix and to grow.»

After finding the best scaffold structure for isolating cancer cells, researchers will continue to study stem cells in depth. The ultimate goal is to identify the bioindicators that cause tumors and find drugs to attack them without affecting other cells in the body.

Furthermore, 3D printing has allowed researchers to improve the efficiency of the research process, reducing costs compared to traditional methodologies.

Conclusion

The utilization of advanced 3D printing techniques in cancer research represents a pivotal acceleration in the quest for effective, targeted therapies. By enabling the creation of intricate, biomimetic scaffold structures, additive manufacturing allows scientists to transition from two-dimensional petri dish limitations to realistic, three-dimensional microenvironments that accurately mimic human tumor biology. This enhanced biological fidelity is crucial for isolating and studying cancer stem cells, the root cause of tumor initiation and recurrence. The ultimate goal is profoundly ambitious: to leverage these realistic models to pinpoint the specific bioindicators responsible for tumor growth and survival.

This technological shift directly impacts drug discovery. With more accurate 3D tumor models, researchers can establish highly efficient drug screening platforms. This allows for the rapid identification of compounds that exhibit selective cytotoxicity, meaning they can attack tumor cells precisely while leaving surrounding healthy tissues unharmed. Beyond the biological breakthroughs, 3D printing introduces tangible operational efficiencies. It allows research institutions to rapidly, affordably, and in-house produce complex, custom research components and microfluidic devices. This capability drastically reduces reliance on slow and expensive traditional methodologies, ultimately lowering research costs and significantly accelerating the pace of translational science toward the development of next-generation, patient-specific cancer drugs.