Hydrogel-based hollow microfibers for functional esophageal carcinoma remodeling

A great challenge in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) research lies in the scarcity of a model that precisely replicates the tumor microenvironment, pathological conditions, and therapeutic responses. To address these limitations, we propose an innovative biomimetic esophageal cancer model utilizing tumor-cell-laden hollow microfibers fabricated through microfluidic spinning. This approach enables precise fluid manipulation within microchannels, facilitating versatile integration, diverse flow configurations, and rapid response times. On this basis, hydrogel microfibers were developed to possess adjustable shell thicknesses, offering a three-dimensional (3D), biocompatible, and porous matrix that supports sustained cell adhesion, proliferation, and spatial cellular interactions. This model elucidates the interaction between Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg) and the malignant progression of ESCC. Overall, by enabling the co-culture of tumor stromal cells and ESCC cells, this study provides an innovative and promising platform for investigating the pathology of esophageal cancer, promoting drug discovery, and exploring other pertinent clinical applications for ESCC.