Development of 3D Cancer Models in Microengineered Systems
A special issue of Micro (ISSN 2673-8023).
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2025 | Viewed by 32
Special Issue Editor
Interests: bone cancers; microfluidics; cancer microenvironment; bone metabolism; osteoporosis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
We are pleased to extend an invitation to you to submit your work for the upcoming Micromachines Special Issue entitled "Development of 3D Cancer Models in Microengineered Systems". This Special Issue focuses on utilising microfluidics, lab-on-a-chip technologies, MEMS-based systems, and miniaturised engineering approaches to create 3D cancer models.
The Special Issue aims to showcase groundbreaking advancements in designing, applying, and clinically translating 3D miniaturised models that accurately replicate the structural and functional complexity of tumour ecosystems. These models play a crucial role in bridging the gap between in vitro systems and in vivo physiology, providing unparalleled insights into cancer progression, metastasis, and therapeutic resistance, thus reducing the reliance on animal models.
We welcome original research articles, reviews, and methodological papers on 3D model innovations. Submissions may include bioengineered systems such as bioprinted tissues, microfluidic platforms, organ-on-a-chip technologies, or MEMS-based models, potentially incorporating patient-derived organoids and tumour spheroids. These platforms enable the study of stromal tumour crosstalk, extracellular matrix (ECM) remodelling, the formation and impact of nutrient or metabolite gradients, including adaptations driven by hypoxia, as well as mechanical and physical barriers to the infiltration of tumour or immune cells. Such systems can be used for high-throughput drug screening, personalised medicine platforms, testing immunotherapy efficacy, and investigating mechanisms of therapy resistance.
We are also interested in receiving submissions on novel biomaterials and biofabrication strategies that mimic tissue-specific mechanical and biochemical cues. Additionally, we encourage innovations that combine imaging approaches with automated high-throughput platforms for scalable drug testing and phenotypic analysis.
This Special Issue aims to facilitate interdisciplinary exchanges among biologists, engineers, and clinicians to expedite the development of physiologically relevant models. Contributions will highlight innovative approaches to replicate tumour heterogeneity, metastatic niches, and dynamic microenvironmental interactions, thereby advancing the study of tumours, precision oncology, and therapeutic discovery.
By submitting your work, you will be contributing to a collective endeavour to redefine cancer research paradigms through state-of-the-art 3D modelling technologies.
You may choose our Joint Special Issue in Micromachines.
Dr. Sofia Avnet
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Micro is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1000 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- three-dimensional cancer models
- microfluidics and lab-on-a-chip
- tumour microenvironment and metastasis
- drug screening and immunotherapy
- biofabrication and novel biomaterials
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