Breast cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths among women worldwide [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.breast.2022.08.010, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.intimp.2020.106535]. Traditional 2D cell cultures fail to replicate the 3D architecture of tumors, while animal models often lack translational accuracy [https://doi.org/10.5114/aoms.2016.63743]. Advanced 3D models, including hydrogels and bioprinted scaffolds, better mimic the tumor’s biomechanical and biochemical properties, providing a more reliable platform for studying cancer progression and drug response [https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering10010017.]. The research activities planned within this project focus on the development and biological characterization of biomimetic scaffolds for breast tumor tissue.

Four different concentrations of alginate-gelatine (ALG-GEL) hydrogels were prepared. All groups were weighed at various time points, to assess their swelling capacity and examine their subsequent degradation for long time incubation at 37°C. pH variations were monitored for different time points. A morphological investigation of the prepared hydrogels was also conducted using SEM. To assess if the polysaccharidic structure of ALG was preserved after the hydrogel formation and to assess the successful incorporation of gelatin in the system, FTIR was performed. Different rheological analyses were performed on all the prepared samples.

All samples showed high swelling after 2h incubation and a slight degradation trend after 21 days of incubation. FTIR analysis confirmed successful GEL incorporation within the hydrogels preserving the structure of ALG. SEM imaging revealed a uniform reticulation among all the prepared samples. Rheological analysis showed a G’ value around 10 kPa, demonstrating a good fitting for mimic breast cancer tumor’s mechanical properties. The different hydrogel formulations are under investigation to assess their capability to support the cell viability of breast cancer cells (the MDA-MB-231 cell line) and allow their distribution inside the hydrogel structure.

The results obtained demonstrated that the incorporation of gelatin effectively modulates the mechanical properties of alginate-based hydrogels, allowing for a more accurate replication of breast tumor tissue stiffness. These hydrogels successfully formed 3D structures capable of mimicking the complexity of the tumor microenvironment, making them valuable models for studying breast cancer progression and response to treatments. Future research will focus on optimizing their bioprintability. By incorporating selected cell lines, these bioprinted models could provide a powerful platform for in vitro cancer research, offering new opportunities to investigate tumor behavior, drug responses, and cell-matrix interactions in a controlled and physiologically relevant setting.