3D disease models: integrating matrix biology and mechanics

IN MATRICO®: Advancing predictive, physiologically relevant disease modeling with tissue-specific dECM

 Jeremy Garcia, Research scientist, Xylyx Bio.

Abstract: The extracellular matrix (ECM) plays a critical role in regulating cell behavior, particularly in diseases such as cancer and fibrosis. Conventional in vitro models often lack tissue-specific ECM complexity and therefore fail to recapitulate the native diseased microenvironment, limiting their translational value.

 IN MATRICO® is a matrix-based in vitro culture platform that uses tissue-specific decellularized extracellular matrix (TissueSpec® dECM) to recreate the biochemical and structural features of native tissues. Within this platform, TissueSpec® dECM materials preserve the molecular composition of their source organs, providing cells with a complex and physiologically relevant microenvironment.

Our 3D IN MATRICO® Human Liver Fibrosis model supports disease-relevant cellular phenotypes, enabling meaningful comparison with patient-derived clinical data. In addition, TissueSpec® Bone, Liver, and Lung dECM hydrogels support the growth of breast cancer patient-derived organoids, offering a physiologically representative system to study tumor–matrix interactions in breast cancer metastasis

Mechanical cues as functional biomarkers of 3D in vitro models

Massimiliano Berardi, Product manager, Optics11 Life

Abstract: Matrix viscoelasticity has emerged as a key regulator in health and disease, for example playing a role in fibroblast activation, fibrosis and cancer progression, and therapy resistance (1-3). Similarly, force generation represents a key functional aspect of several tissues, such as heart and skeletal muscles.

Despite its importance, biomechanical characterization remains underutilized as a functional readout in 3D in vitro models. This is largely due to limited compatibility across culture modalities, insufficient spatial resolution at the cellular scale, and poor suitability for scalable screening workflows.

Here, we demonstrate how our instruments offer a practical, scalable approach to probing the physical cues of biological systems, and how measurements of force, stiffness, and viscoelasticity can serve as biomarkers to guide the development of new therapies.

To this end, we cover a variety of examples within the context of fibrosis – from the replication of native tissues and fine-tuning of 3D printed models to the monitoring of altered mechanical response, both in vitro and ex vivo.

We show how changes in force and local matrix mechanics are correlated with cellular state, remodeling processes and pharmacological treatments, indicating that biomechanical parameters can serve as quantitative functional biomarkers in addition to conventional biological readouts.