Tuning scaffold pore features to accomplish biomimicry in liver and pancreas 3D tumor models: a study on cancer cell aggregation, migration and morphotype transition

Cancer cell/scaffold constructs have shown more reliable microenvironment regeneration than culture plates and xenografting. Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) is a biocompatible synthetic polymer able to cross-link upon freezing, giving rise to soft porous hydrophilic mats, which may mimic glandular organs. Biosynthetic PVA matrices with diverse pore features can be obtained acting on processing parameters and biomolecule type/concentration[1]. The aim of this report is to define the morphological features of the scaffolds affecting cancer cell assembly, so as to obtain reliable 3D models to study invasion and metastasis mechanisms occurring in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), which are the 3rd and 4th cause of death in USA, respectively.