Biomaterials and 3D Bioprinting Strategies to Model Glioblastoma and the Blood–Brain Barrier

• Published in: Advanced materials (Weinheim) 2021-02, Vol.33 (5), p.e2004776-n/a
• Main Authors: Tang, Min, Rich, Jeremy N., Chen, Shaochen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 3-D printers; 3D bioprinting; 3D models; Animals; Biocompatible Materials - chemistry; Bioengineering; biomaterials; Biomedical materials; Biomimetics; Bioprinting - methods; Blood-brain barrier; Blood-Brain Barrier - metabolism; Brain Neoplasms - metabolism; Brain Neoplasms - pathology; Central nervous system; glioblastoma; Glioblastoma - metabolism; Glioblastoma - pathology; Humans; Printing, Three-Dimensional; Three dimensional models; Three dimensional printing; Tumor Microenvironment
• ISSN: 0935-9648; 1521-4095; 1521-4095
• DOI: 10.1002/adma.202004776

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most prevalent and lethal adult primary central nervous system cancer. An immunosuppresive and highly heterogeneous tumor microenvironment, restricted delivery of chemotherapy or immunotherapy through the blood–brain barrier (BBB), together with the brain's unique biochemical and anatomical features result in its universal recurrence and poor prognosis. As conventional models fail to predict therapeutic efficacy in GBM, in vitro 3D models of GBM and BBB leveraging patient‐ or healthy‐individual‐derived cells and biomaterials through 3D bioprinting technologies potentially mimic essential physiological and pathological features of GBM and BBB. 3D‐bioprinted constructs enable investigation of cellular and cell–extracellular matrix interactions in a species‐matched, high‐throughput, and reproducible manner, serving as screening or drug delivery platforms. Here, an overview of current 3D‐bioprinted GBM and BBB models is provided, elaborating on the microenvironmental compositions of GBM and BBB, relevant biomaterials to mimic the native tissues, and bioprinting strategies to implement the model fabrication. Collectively, 3D‐bioprinted GBM and BBB models are promising systems and biomimetic alternatives to traditional models for more reliable mechanistic studies and preclinical drug screenings that may eventually accelerate the drug development process for GBM. Recent progress on 3D‐bioprinted models of glioblastoma and the blood–brain barrier are reviewed. In order to inform future design and implementation of 3D modeling, cellular and extracellular matrix components of the native tissue microenvironments, relevant natural and synthetic biomaterials and various 3D bioprinting strategies, are discussed in detail.