3D Bioprinters Are Advancing Cancer Research

Although the past decade has yielded significant reductions in the cancer death rate around the world, cancer is still the second leading cause of death globally, accounting for about 10 million deaths in 2020. This sobering statistic makes the search for more efficient cancer solutions an important priority for researchers the world over. While animal models have advanced our understanding of the molecular mechanisms associated with cancer and its progression, therapeutics developed with these interspecies models often fail in clinical trials because the efficacy results do not translate to humans.
In vitro testing of therapeutics with human cells offers researchers a new toolbox with the potential to significantly accelerate discovery and prevent costly late-stage clinical failures. But it is imperative that this preclinical testing with human cells is done in 3D rather than in 2D because cells self-assemble in 3D based on external signals from surrounding cells and the environment. Past studies have shown that 3D cell culturing supports more relevant cell-cell interactions and demonstrates differences in cell proliferation, morphology, oxygenation, drug and nutrient uptake, excretion and junction proteins, giving researchers access to more physiologically relevant models on which to study disease progression or screen drug compounds.

Extrusion-based bioprinting

Multimaterial & multicell flexibility in any tissue engineering project

CELLINK’s award-winning extrusion-based bioprinters the BIO X™ and BIO X6™ allow for 3D bioprinting with up to six printheads, enabling multimaterial and multicell flexibility during small or large tissue engineering projects.

Light-Based Bioprinting

Bioprint with vascular networks directly within tissue models

CELLINK also offers light-based bioprinters, like the LUMEN X™, which can be used as a standalone tissue fabrication system or in conjunction with extrusion-based bioprinters. The advantages of the light-based bioprinters are the high-resolution patterning and the ability to bioprint with vascular networks directly within tissue models.

Bioinks

Superior biocompatibility, cell viability and printability

In addition, CELLINK offers the largest selection of high-quality bioinks, as well as tissue-specific prepackaged kits formulated for specific cell types. Each kit includes tissue-specific cells, premium media and customized ink blends for low batch-to-batch variability, superior biocompatibility, cell viability and printability.

Free research packet with new content available

Learn how bioprinting can be used to better understand cancer cells and accelerate oncology research by downloading our free Cancer Research Packet.