RT Journal Article
T1 Biomimetic core-shell breast cancer models using alginate, gelatin, and collagen I: simulating the tumor matrix for drug evaluation
A1 Gato Díaz, Uxía
A1 Castro Alves, Lisandra de
A1 Concheiro Nine, Ángel Joaquín
A1 Piñeiro Redondo, Yolanda
A1 Álvarez Lorenzo, Carmen
A1 Blanco Fernández, Bárbara
A1 Rivas Rey, José
K1 3D in vitro cancer model
K1 Core-shell hydrogel
K1 Doxorubicin resistance
K1 Drug screening
K1 Invadopodia
AB Breast cancer remains among the most prevalent cancers in women worldwide. During tumor development, the extracellular matrix is altered to support tumor progression and therapy resistance. Therefore, there is a need to develop breast cancer models that replicate the complex tumor extracellular matrix to accurately mimic the mechanisms by which it influences drug resistance and cancer cell malignancy. In this study, we fabricated an innovative breast cancer 3D in vitro model consisting of core-shell hydrogel beads from alginate, gelatin, and collagen I by extrusion through a coaxial needle. Breast cancer cells proliferated in the core of all prototypes designed, forming spheroids and cell aggregates with a high resistance to doxorubicin. The addition of Collagen I to the developed model enabled the upregulation of malignancy markers (Col1A1, Ki67, FOXC2, SNAI1, NFKB1, WWTR1), invasion markers (WASL, ACTA1, MYO1E, TPM4, PODXL, ITGA2, ITGA5, MENA, EGFR, CDC42), and drug resistance markers (ABCG2, CYP1A1, BAX, HSP90AA1) occurring in vivo. The developed 3D in vitro model can clarify the contribution of the extracellular matrix to the tumor outcome and drug efficacy by replicating some key characteristics of breast tumors, establishing a novel tool for chemotherapeutic agents and drug screening.
PB Elsevier
YR 2026
FD 2026-01
LK https://hdl.handle.net/10347/46931
UL https://hdl.handle.net/10347/46931
LA eng
NO Gato-Diaz, U., de Castro-Alves, L., Concheiro, A., Piñeiro, Y., Alvarez-Lorenzo, C., Blanco-Fernandez, B., & Rivas, J. (2026). Biomimetic core-shell breast cancer models using alginate, gelatin, and collagen I: simulating the tumor matrix for drug evaluation. International journal of biological macromolecules, 335(Pt 1), 149205. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.149205
NO This work was supported by the Strategic State Plan for Scientific, Technical, Innovation 501100011033, European Research Union MICIU/AEI/10.13039/ NextGenerationEU/PRTR (PLEC2022–009217) by the Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities of Spain (to L.A., Y. P., and J.R.) and by ISCII through CERTERA, the State Network Consortium for the Development of Advanced Therapy Medicines (PERTE for Cutting-Edge Health, Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan, Proyect CERT22/00015). The work was also funded by the Xunta de Galicia (ED431F 2024/19 to B.B.F.; ED431C 2024/09: to B.B.F., C.A.L., A.C.); Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities of Spain MICIU/AEI/ 10.13039/50110001103 (PID2023- 150422OB-I00 to A.C. and C.A.L.; PID2023-147892OA-I00 to B.B.F.), ERDF A way of making Europe, and the European Union; and MICIU/ AEI/10.13039/501100011033 MICIU/AEI (RYC2022–037421-I to B.B.F.).
DS Minerva
RD 22 may 2026