Abstract:

Conventional two-dimensional (2D) culture systems have long been employed in cancer research; however, they fail to replicate the structural, biochemical, and biophysical complexity of the tumor microenvironment. These limitations hinder the accurate study of cancer cell behavior and restrict the predictive value of drug-screening assays. To address this challenge, we fabricated electroconductive biomimetic scaffold-based devices incorporating extracellular matrix (ECM)-derived biomolecules, designed to more closely replicate the native stroma of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), the most aggressive breast cancer subtype. The fabricated devices were characterized to evaluate both their physical and electrical properties, providing a robust understanding of their functional performance. Biocompatibility studies confirmed their suitability for supporting breast cancer cell growth, while drug-testing assays using doxorubicin demonstrated the scaffolds’ potential as physiologically relevant platforms for therapeutic screening. By combining electroconductive properties with ECM-inspired components, our approach provides a more accurate representation of the tumor microenvironment compared to traditional 2D systems.