Versatile 3D Research Articles

A versatile PDMS submicrobead/graphene oxide nanocomposite ink for the direct ink writing of wearable micron-scale tactile sensors

Although direct ink writing (DIW) is a versatile 3D printing technique, progress in DIW has been constrained by the stringent rheological requirements for printable conductive nanocomposites, particularly at smaller length scales. In this work, we overcome these challenges using an aqueous nanocomposite ink with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) submicrobeads and an electrochemically derived graphene oxide (EGO) nanofiller. This nanocomposite ink possesses a thixotropic, self-supporting viscoelasticity. It can be easily extruded through very small nozzle openings (as small as 50μm) allowing for the highest resolution PDMS DIW reported to date. With a mild thermal annealing, the DIW-printed device exhibits low resistivity (1660Ω·cm) at a low percolation threshold of EGO (0.83vol.%) owing to the unique nanocomposite structure of graphene-wrapped elastomeric beads. The nanocomposite ink was used to print wearable, macro-scale strain sensing patches, as well as remarkably small, micron-scale pressure sensors. The large-scale strain sensors have excellent performance over a large working range (up to 40% strain), with high gauge factor (20.3) and fast responsivity (83ms), while the micron-scale pressure sensors demonstrated high pressure sensitivity (0.31kPa−1) and operating range (0.248–500kPa). Ultrahigh resolution, multi-material layer-by-layer deposition allows the engineering of microscale features into the devices, features which can be used to tune the piezoresistive mechanism and degree of piezoresistivity.

A Novel 3D In Vitro Platform for Pre-Clinical Investigations in Drug Testing, Gene Therapy, and Immuno-oncology

Tumors develop within complex cell-to-cell interactions, with accessory cells playing a relevant role starting in the early phases of cancer progression. This event occurs in a three-dimensional (3D) environment, which to date, has been difficult to reproduce in vitro due to its complexity. While bi-dimensional cultures have generated substantial data, there is a progressive awareness that 3D culture strategies may rapidly increase the understanding of tumor development and be used in anti-cancer compound screening and for predicting response to new drugs utilizing personalized approaches. However, simple systems capable of rapidly rebuilding cancer tissues ex-vivo in 3D are needed and could be used for a variety of applications. Therefore, we developed a flat, handheld and versatile 3D cell culture bioreactor that can be loaded with tumor and/or normal cells in combination which can be monitored using a variety of read-outs. This biocompatible device sustained 3D growth of tumor cell lines representative of various cancers, such as pancreatic and breast adenocarcinoma, sarcoma, and glioblastoma. The cells repopulated the thin matrix which was completely separated from the outer space by two gas-permeable membranes and was monitored in real-time using both microscopy and luminometry, even after transportation. The device was tested in 3D cytotoxicity assays to investigate the anti-cancer potential of chemotherapy, biologic agents, and cell-based therapy in co-cultures. The addition of luciferase in target cancer cells is suitable for comparative studies that may also involve parallel in vivo investigations. Notably, the system was challenged using primary tumor cells harvested from lung cancer patients as an innovative predictive functional assay for cancer responsiveness to checkpoint inhibitors, such as nivolumab. This bioreactor has several novel features in the 3D-culture field of research, representing a valid tool useful for cancer investigations, drug screenings, and other toxicology approaches.

A Versatile 3D Vehicle-Track-Bridge Element for Dynamic Analysis of the Railway Bridges under Moving Train Loads

There has been a growing interest to carry out the vehicle–track–bridge (VTB) dynamic interaction analysis using 2D or 3D finite elements based on simplified wheel–rail relationships. The simplified or elastic wheel–rail contact relationships, however, cannot consider the lateral contact forces and geometric shapes of the wheel and rails, and even the occasional jump of wheels from the rails. This does not guarantee a reliable analysis for the safety running of trains over bridges. To consider the wheel–rail constraint and contact forces, this paper proposes a versatile 3D VTB element, consisting of a vehicle, eight rail beam elements, four bridge beam elements, and continuous springs as well as the dampers between the rail and bridge girder. With the 3D VTB element matrices formulated, a procedure for assembling the interaction matrices of the 3D VTB element is presented based on the virtual work principle. The global equations of motion of the VTB interaction system are established accordingly, which can be solved by time integration methods to obtain the dynamic responses of the vehicle, track and bridge, as well as the stability and safety indices of the moving train. Finally, an illustrative example is used to verify the proposed the versatile 3D VTB element for the dynamic interactive analysis of railway bridges under moving train loads.

Polymer composites: Evolve towards multifunctionality or perish

Polymer composites were initially adopted and became popular in transportation sectors (primarily and massively in aerospace, then automotive and in a lesser extent railway industry) to manufacture structural and semi-structural parts driven by their superior strength and stiffness-to-weight ratio. Such market segments, where the lighter is the better, used to be the Eldorado of textile-reinforced polymers. However emerging metal alloys and new lightweight designs allowed by additive manufacturing are likely to threaten traditional polymer composite solutions, all the more so given that their recycling remains a tricky issue. Thus, polymer composites are destined to evolve to remain attractive and competitive. Lightweighting is no longer enough to win the race, multifunctionality becomes a crucial asset. The ability to add functionality to a composite part is nowadays significant for the performance and added-value of structural components. Self-healing, embedding sensors and actuators for structural health monitoring and adaptive response, embedded energy storage and energy harvesting, enhancement of thermal and electrical conductivity, and data-transmission within composite parts are some examples of the challenges to face. To re-invent this class of materials, one can take advantage of new manufacturing processes (robotic automation, process hybridisation, 3D-textile reinforcement, direct composites 3D printing) and new materials – incorporating for instance nanocarbon (graphene, carbon nanotubes), metallized fibres or electroactive/conductive/piezoelectric polymer matrices into composites. Novel versatile and scalable additive manufacturing 3D printers, dedicated to the production of thermoplastic composite parts and having unprecedented features, are currently developed for this purpose. They are based on multi-axis robots mounted on translation rails and equipped with several extruders permitting multi-materials processing; fed by standard polymer pellets, they offer great flexibility (simultaneous deposition of several thermoplastics, chopped fibre-reinforced and filled plastics, embedding of continuous fibres and possibly linear sensors) and allow manufacturing of several meters long/large components. Competition between materials is ever tougher. Collaborations between academic and industrial players are the key to develop innovative solutions meeting the demand for composite solutions allying design freedom, lightweight, high multifunctional performance and cost-efficiency.

Fabrication of highly pressure-sensitive, hydrophobic, and flexible 3D carbon nanofiber networks by electrospinning for human physiological signal monitoring.

Three-dimensional (3D) porous nanostructure materials have promising applications in pressure sensors or other situations. However, the low sensing sensitivity of these materials restricts precise detection of physiological signals, and it is still a challenge to manufacture highly pressure-sensitive materials, which simultaneously possess other versatile properties. Herein, a simple and cost-efficient strategy is proposed to fabricate versatile 3D carbon nanofiber networks (CNFNs) with superior pressure-sensitivity through electrospinning and thermal treatment. The pressure sensitivity of the CNFNs is 1.41 kPa-1, which is much higher than that of similar 3D porous materials. Unlike traditional carbonaceous materials, the CNFNs exhibit excellent flexibility, stable resilience, and super compressibility (>95%), because of the nano-reinforce of Al2O3. Benefiting from the robust mechanical and piezoresistive properties of the CNFNs, a pressure sensor designed with the CNFNs is able to monitor human physiological signals, such as phonation, pulse, respiration and human activities. An arch-array platform for direction identification of tangential forces and an artificial electronic skin bioinspired by human's hairy skin have been ingeniously designed. The CNFNs also present other versatile characteristics as well, including ultralight density, hydrophobicity, low thermal conductivity, and low infrared emissivity. Therefore, the CNFNs have promising potential in a wide range of applications.

Efficient 3D Low-Discrepancy k -Space Sampling Using Highly Adaptable Seiffert Spirals.

The overall duration of acquiring a Nyquist sampled 3D dataset can be significantly shortened by enhancing the efficiency of k -space sampling. This can be achieved by increasing the coverage of k -space for every trajectory interleave. Furthermore, acceleration is possible by making use of advantageous undersampling properties. In this paper, a versatile 3D center-out k -space trajectory based on Jacobian elliptic functions (Seiffert's spiral) is presented. The trajectory leads to a low-discrepancy coverage of k -space using a considerably reduced number of readouts compared with other approaches. Such a coverage is achieved for any number of interleaves, and, therefore, even single-shot trajectories can be constructed to be combined with, for example, hyperpolarized media. Furthermore, acceleration is achievable due to non-coherent undersampling properties of the trajectory in combination with non-linear reconstruction techniques like compressed sensing (CS). Simulations of point-spread functions and discrepancy evaluations compare Seiffert's spiral to the established 3D cones approach. Imaging capabilities are evaluated by comparison of in vivo knee images using Nyquist and undersampled datasets in combination with CS reconstructions.

Focused-ion-beam-based nano-kirigami: from art to photonics

Abstract Kirigami, i.e. the cutting and folding of flat objects to create versatile shapes, is one of the most traditional Chinese arts that has been widely used in window decorations, gift cards, festivals, and various ceremonies, and has recently found intriguing applications in modern sciences and technologies. In this article, we review the newly developed focused-ion-beam-based nanoscale kirigami, named nano-kirigami, as a powerful three-dimensional (3D) nanofabrication technique. By utilizing the topography-guided stress equilibrium induced by ion-beam irradiation on a free-standing gold nanofilm, versatile 3D shape transformations such as upward buckling, downward bending, complex rotation, and twisting of nanostructures are precisely achieved. It is shown that the generated 3D nanostructures possess exceptional geometries and promising photonic functionalities, including strongly interacting multiple Fano resonances, giant optical chirality, clear photonic spin Hall effects, and diffractive phase/polarization effects. The studies of such structures can build up novel platforms for versatile manufacturing techniques and be helpful to establish new areas in plasmonics, nanophotonics, optomechanics, MEMS/NEMS, etc., with the generation of exotic but functional nanostructures.

Stiffness memory nanohybrid scaffolds generated by indirect 3D printing for biologically responsive soft implants

Cell and tissue stiffness is an important biomechanical signalling parameter for dynamic biological processes; responsive polymeric materials conferring responsive functionality are therefore appealing for in vivo implants. We have developed thermoresponsive poly(urea-urethane) nanohybrid scaffolds with ‘stiffness memory’ through a versatile 3D printing-guided thermally induced phase separation (3D-TIPS) technique. 3D-TIPS, a combination of 3D printing with phase separation, allows uniform phase-separation and phase transition of the polymer solution at a large interface of network within the printed sacrificial preform, leading to the creation of full-scale scaffolds with bespoke anatomical complex geometry. A wide range of hyperelastic mechanical properties of the soft elastomer scaffolds with interconnected pores at multi-scale, controlled porosity and crystallinity have been manufactured, not previously achievable via direct printing techniques or phase-separation alone. Semi-crystalline polymeric reverse self-assembly to a ground-stated quasi-random nanophase structure, throughout a hierarchical structure of internal pores, contributes to gradual stiffness relaxation during in vitro cell culture with minimal changes to shape. This ‘stiffness memory’ provides initial mechanical support to surrounding tissues before gradually softening to a better mechanical match, raising hopes for personalized and biologically responsive soft tissue implants which promote human fibroblast cells growth as model and potential scaffold tissue integration. Statement of SignificanceBiological processes are dynamic in nature, however current medical implants are often stronger and stiffer than the surrounding tissue, with little adaptability in response to biological and physical stimuli. This work has contributed to the development of a range of thermoresponsive nanohybrid elastomer scaffolds, with tuneable stiffness and hierarchically interconnected porous structure, manufactured by a versatile indirect 3D printing technique. For the first time, stiffness memory of the scaffold was observed to be driven by phase transition and a reverse self-assembly from a semicrystalline phase to a quasi-random nanostructured rubber phase. Early insight into cell response during the stiffness relaxation of the scaffolds in vitro holds promise for personalized biologically responsive soft implants.

A Survey of Methods for Symmetry Detection on 3D High Point Density Models in Biomedicine

Versatile, cheap and non-invasive 3D acquisition techniques have received attention and interest in the field of biomedicine in recent years as the accuracy of developed devices permits the acquisition of human body shapes in detail. Interest in these technologies derives from the fact that they have the potential to overcome some limitations of invasive techniques (CT, X-rays, etc.) and those based on 2D photographs for the acquisition of 3D geometry. However, the data acquired from the 3D scanner cannot be directly used but need to be processed as they consist of 3D coordinates of the acquired points. Therefore, many researchers have proposed different algorithms which recognise the shape of human body and/or its features when starting from a 3D point cloud. Among all possible human body features to be evaluated, symmetry results the most relevant one. Accordingly, this survey systematically investigates the methods proposed in the literature to recognise 2D symmetry by the symmetry line and bilateral symmetry by the symmetry plane. The paper also analyses qualitative comparisons among the proposed methods to provide a guide for both practitioners and researchers.

A versatile porous 3D polyurethane/polyacrylic acid (PU-PAA) membrane for one-step multiple contaminants water purification

Developing versatile materials for simultaneous removal of organic dyes, heavy metals and oil from water has big significance for water protection. Herein, we fabricate a porous 3D polyurethane/polyacrylic acid (PU-PAA) membrane by simple solvent casting-salt leaching and thermal crosslinking, which combines the properties of underwater superoleophobicity and quantities of carboxyl groups. The stable superoleophobicity can be used for efficient surfactant-stabilized oil-in-water microemulsions separation. And the negative carboxylic ions are able to capture cationic dyes and heavy metals, simultaneously. Using the PU-PAA membrane in filtration column enables one-step multiple pollutants water treatment with high flux, selectivity, recyclability, efficiency and capacity. Moreover, PU-PAA can be used for efficient dye mixture separation. These results indicate that this versatile porous 3D membrane can be a very potential candidate for advanced purification applications.

Modeling climate diversity, tidal dynamics and the fate of volatiles on TRAPPIST-1 planets

TRAPPIST-1 planets are invaluable for the study of comparative planetary science outside our solar system and possibly habitability. Both transit timing variations (TTV) of the planets and the compact, resonant architecture of the system suggest that TRAPPIST-1 planets could be endowed with various volatiles today. First, we derived from N-body simulations possible planetary evolution scenarios, and show that all the planets are likely in synchronous rotation. We then used a versatile 3D global climate model (GCM) to explore the possible climates of cool planets around cool stars, with a focus on the TRAPPIST-1 system. We investigated the conditions required for cool planets to prevent possible volatile species to be lost permanently by surface condensation, irreversible burying or photochemical destruction. We also explored the resilience of the same volatiles (when in condensed phase) to a runaway greenhouse process. We find that background atmospheres made of N2, CO, or O2are rather resistant to atmospheric collapse. However, even if TRAPPIST-1 planets were able to sustain a thick background atmosphere by surviving early X/EUV radiation and stellar wind atmospheric erosion, it is difficult for them to accumulate significant greenhouse gases like CO2, CH4, or NH3. CO2can easily condense on the permanent nightside, forming CO2ice glaciers that would flow toward the substellar region. A complete CO2ice surface cover is theoretically possible on TRAPPIST-1g and h only, but CO2ices should be gravitationally unstable and get buried beneath the water ice shell in geologically short timescales. Given TRAPPIST-1 planets large EUV irradiation (at least ~103 × Titan’s flux), CH4and NH3are photodissociated rapidly and are thus hard to accumulate in the atmosphere. Photochemical hazes could then sedimentate and form a surface layer of tholins that would progressively thicken over the age of the TRAPPIST-1 system. Regarding habitability, we confirm that few bars of CO2would suffice to warm the surface of TRAPPIST-1f and g above the melting point of water. We also show that TRAPPIST-1e is a remarkable candidate for surface habitability. If the planet is today synchronous and abundant in water, then it should very likely sustain surface liquid water at least in the substellar region, whatever the atmosphere considered.

Tunable optical coherence tomography in the infrared range using visible photons

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is an appealing technique for bio-imaging, medicine, and material analysis. For many applications, OCT in mid- and far-infrared (IR) leads to significantly more accurate results. Reported mid-IR OCT systems require light sources and photodetectors which operate in mid-IR range. These devices are expensive and need cryogenic cooling. Here, we report a proof-of-concept demonstration of a wavelength tunable IR OCT technique with detection of only visible range photons. Our method is based on the nonlinear interference of frequency correlated photon pairs. The nonlinear crystal, introduced in the Michelson-type interferometer, generates photon pairs with one photon in the visible and another in the IR range. The intensity of detected visible photons depends on the phase and loss of IR photons, which interact with the sample under study. This enables us to characterize sample properties and perform imaging in the IR range by detecting visible photons. The technique possesses broad wavelength tunability and yields a fair axial and lateral resolution, which can be tailored to the specific application. The work contributes to the development of versatile 3D imaging and material characterization systems working in a broad range of IR wavelengths, which do not require the use of IR-range light sources and photodetectors.

3D Jet Writing: Functional Microtissues Based on Tessellated Scaffold Architectures.

The advent of adaptive manufacturing techniques supports the vision of cell-instructive materials that mimic biological tissues. 3D jet writing, a modified electrospinning process reported herein, yields 3D structures with unprecedented precision and resolution offering customizable pore geometries and scalability to over tens of centimeters. These scaffolds support the 3D expansion and differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells in vitro. Implantation of these constructs leads to the healing of critical bone defects in vivo without exogenous growth factors. When applied as a metastatic target site in mice, circulating cancer cells home in to the osteogenic environment simulated on 3D jet writing scaffolds, despite implantation in an anatomically abnormal site. Through 3D jet writing, the formation of tessellated microtissues is demonstrated, which serve as a versatile 3D cell culture platform in a range of biomedical applications including regenerative medicine, cancer biology, and stem cell biotechnology.

Swept source optical coherence tomography and tunable lens technology for comprehensive imaging and biometry of the whole eye

Standard optical systems in ophthalmology are strictly dedicated either to retinal or to anterior segment imaging due to the refractive properties of the eye. We demonstrate a swept source optical coherence tomography platform with an electrically tunable lens (ETL) for versatile 3D in vivo imaging of both the eye’s anterior segment and the retina. The optimized optical setup with adaptive operational states of the ETL permits focusing on the retina and on the anterior segment. Dynamic control of the optical beam focus allows for OCT image enhancement, leading to the visualization of the vitreous details at both the vitreo-lenticular and vitreo-retinal attachment sites in an unprecedented manner. ETL tuning enables sequential visualization of the anterior and posterior segment of the eye, and such whole eye imaging can be also used to perform quantitative ocular biometry.

Indirect fabrication of versatile 3D microfluidic device by a rotating plate combined 3D printing system.

In the past decade, 3D-printing technology has been applied in the field of microfluidics to fabricate microfluidic devices for wide-ranging areas of study including chemistry, biology, medicine, and others. However, these methods face several limitations such as insufficient resolution and long fabrication time. In this study, versatile microfluidic devices with different functions were indirectly fabricated by a rapid sacrificial template printing process using a photocurable fluoropolymer with chemical durability. The Pluronic® F127 hydrogel as a sacrificial template was rapidly patterned on substrates by a non-lithographic printing process using a computer-controlled 3D-printing system. Viscous fluoropolymer was cast on the non-deformable template that was consequently removed by applying heat and negative pressure after UV curing. The chemical-resistant and transparent microchannels were oblate-hemispherical on the cross section. They were tested by performing a heterogeneous catalytic reaction as well as a photochemical reaction. The microchannels with controlled heights were devised to induce convection for functioning as a micromixer with asymmetric flows. Moreover, upon printing the Pluronic® F127 on both sides of the PFPE (perfluoropolyether–urethane dimethacrylate) membrane substrate, the 3D hybrid microfluidic device was embedded with a permeable membrane between the lower and upper channels, which is useful for gas–liquid chemical processes.

A review of the application of reinforced hydrogels and silk as biomaterials for intervertebral disc repair

The degeneration of the intervertebral disc (IVD) within the spinal column represents a major pain source for many patients. Biological restoration or repair of the IVD using "compressive-force-resistant" and at the same time "cytocompatible" materials would be desirable over current purely mechanical solutions, such as spinal fusion or IVD implants. This review provides an overview of recent research on the repair of the inner (nucleus pulposus = NP) and the outer (annulus fibrous = AF) parts of the IVD tissue. Many studies have addressed NP repair using hydrogel-like materials. However, only a few studies have so far focused on AF repair. As the AF possesses an extremely low self-healing capacity and special attention to shear-force resistance is essential, special repair designs are required. In our review, we stated the challenges in IVD repair and highlighted the use of composite materials such as silk biomaterials and fibrin cross-linked reinforced hydrogels. We elaborated on the origin of silk and its many in tissue engineering. Furthermore, techniques such as electrospinning and 3D printing technologies allow the fabrication of versatile and functionalised 3D scaffolds. We summarised the research that has been conducted in the field of regenerative medicine over the recent years, with a special focus on the potential application and the potential of combining silk and reinforced - and thus mechanically tailored - hydrogels for IVD repair.

A new cellular type in invertebrates: first evidence of telocytes in leech Hirudo medicinalis

Telocytes, a peculiar cell type, were recently found in vertebrates. Hence this cell system has been reported as ubiquitous in the bodies of mammals and interpreted as an important player in innate immunity and tissue regeneration, it is reasonable to look for it also in invertebrates, that rely their integrity solely by innate immunity. Here we describe, at morphological and functional level, invertebrate telocytes from the body of leech Hirudo medicinalis (Annelida), suggesting how these cells, forming a resident stromal 3D network, can influence or participate in different events. These findings support the concepts that leech telocytes: i) are organized in a cellular dynamic and versatile 3D network likewise the vertebrate counterpart; ii) are an evolutionarily conserved immune-neuroendocrine system; iii) form an immuno-surveillance system of resident cells responding faster than migrating immunocytes recruited in stimulated area; iv) communicate with neighbouring cells directly and indirectly, via cell-cell contacts and soluble molecules secreted by multivesicular bodies; v) present within neo-vessels, share with immunocytes the mesodermal lineage; vi) are involved in regenerative processes. In conclusion, we propose that HmTCs, integrating so different functions, might explain the innate immune memory and can be associated with several aged related diseases.

3D Microtissues for Injectable Regenerative Therapy and High-throughput Drug Screening.

To upgrade traditional 2D cell culture to 3D cell culture, we have integrated microfabrication with cryogelation technology to produce macroporous microscale cryogels (microcryogels), which can be loaded with a variety of cell types to form 3D microtissues. Herein, we present the protocol to fabricate versatile 3D microtissues and their applications in regenerative therapy and drug screening. Size and shape-controllable microcryogels can be fabricated on an array chip, which can be harvested off-chip as individual cell-loaded carriers for injectable regenerative therapy or be further assembled on-chip into 3D microtissue arrays for high-throughput drug screening. Due to the high elastic nature of these microscale cryogels, the 3D microtissues exhibit great injectability for minimally invasive cell therapy by protecting cells from mechanical shear force during injection. This ensures enhanced cell survival and therapeutic effect in the mouse limb ischemia model. Meanwhile, assembly of 3D microtissue arrays in a standard 384-multi-well format facilitates the use of common laboratory facilities and equipment, enabling high-throughput drug screening on this versatile 3D cell culture platform.

Fast and low-cost patterning of electrodes on versatile 2D and 3D substrates by cutting and origami cohesive thermoplastic for biosensing applications

In this work, cohesive thermoplastic-assisted patterning was successfully used to fabricate versatile 2D and 3D electrodes for biosensing application. The cohesive thermoplastic template was fabricated by cutter shaping to remove wet-chemical processes and UV-lithography. This low cost approach is compatible with versatile inks and substrates. Both single and multi-step grafting of inks work well with cohesive thermoplastic templates to form electronic units on substrates. Other than work on a 2D flat substrate, the cohesive thermoplastic origami can easily fabricate electrodes on 3D objects, demonstrating itself as a good candidate to implant electronic unit on a stereotype object. The flexibility, convenience and operability seen here make this method a fast prototype method to evaluate the proof-of-concept design. It also provides alternative fabrication solutions for researchers from resource-limited laboratories to work on miniaturized devices.

A versatile 3D tissue matrix scaffold system for tumor modeling and drug screening.

Most of the anticancer drug candidates entering preclinical trials fail to be approved for clinical applications. The following are among the main causes of these failures: studying molecular mechanisms of cancer development, identifying therapeutic targets, and testing drug candidates using inappropriate tissue culture models, which do not recapitulate the native microenvironment where the cancer cells originate. It has become clear that three-dimensional (3D) cell cultures are more biologically and clinically relevant than 2D models. The spatial and mechanical conditions of 3D cultures enable the cancer cells to display heterogeneous growth, assume diverse phenotypes, express distinct gene and protein products, and attain metastatic potential and resistance to drugs that are reminiscent of tumors in humans. However, the current 3D culture systems using synthetic polymers or selected components of the extracellular matrix (ECM) are defective (particularly the biophysical and biochemical properties of the native ECM) and remain distant to optimally support the signaling cue-oriented cell survival and growth. We introduce a reconstitutable tissue matrix scaffold (TMS) system fabricated using native tissue ECM, with tissue-like architecture and resilience. The structural and compositional properties of TMS favor robust cell survival, proliferation, migration, and invasion in culture and vascularized tumor formation in animals. The combination of porous and hydrogel TMS allows compartmental culture of cancerous and stromal cells, which are distinguishable by biomarkers. The response of the cancer cells grown on TMS to drugs well reflects animal and clinical observations. TMS enables more biologically relevant studies and is suitable for preclinical drug screening.