3D bioprinting of reliable tumor models to test photothermal/photodynamic therapies.

Bioprinting of tumor models is rapidly becoming an essential tool for testing novel cancer therapies. Photothermal therapy is a promising therapeutic/supportive approach to treating cancer by using light-absorbing materials to generate heat and destroy tumor cells. However, the efficacy of this therapy heavily relies on the accurate and reliable modeling of tumors in vitro. Bioprinting offers the ability to create complex, multicellular tumor models that mimic the in vivo tumor microenvironment. Moreover, bioprinting has the advantege of potentially testing therapies directly on patient's derived cells, not having to deal with the different physiology of animal models. This technology involves the precise positioning of cells and biomaterials to replicate the architecture and function of the tumor. Here, we tested the effectiveness of photothermal/photodynamic therapy alone or in combination with standard approaches, such as chemotherapy or immunotherapy on several bioprinted tumor models. This will contribute to deepening knowledge in oncology, shortening the path to clinical translation.