2. Academic Validation
  3. Decellularized Dermis ECM-Based Melanoma-on-a-Chip Model with Integrated Lymphatic and Vascular Networks for High-Throughput Drug Testing

Decellularized Dermis ECM-Based Melanoma-on-a-Chip Model with Integrated Lymphatic and Vascular Networks for High-Throughput Drug Testing

  • ACS Appl Bio Mater. 2026 Mar 16;9(6):2971-2979. doi: 10.1021/acsabm.5c02329.
Paula Vázquez-Aristizabal 1 2 3,  Inazio Arriola-Alvarez 2,  Malou Henriksen-Lacey 1 3,  Sonia Alonso-Martin 2 4,  Lenie van den Broek 5,  Luis M Liz-Marzán 1 3 6 7,  Ander Izeta 2 8 9
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 CIC biomaGUNE, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), 20014 Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain.
  • 2 Biogipuzkoa Health Research Institute, Stem Cells & Aging Group, 20014 Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain.
  • 3 Biomedical Research Networking Center in Bioengineering, Biomaterials, and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), 20014 Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain.
  • 4 CIBERNED, ISCIII (CIBER, Carlos III Institute, Spanish Ministry of Sciences and Innovation), 28031 Madrid, Spain.
  • 5 Mimetas BV, De Limes 7, 2342DH Oegstgeest, The Netherlands.
  • 6 Ikerbasque Basque Foundation for Science, 48009 Bilbao, Spain.
  • 7 Cinbio, Universidade de Vigo, 36310 Vigo, Spain.
  • 8 Donostia University Hospital, Advanced Therapies Unit, 20014 Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain.
  • 9 Tecnun-University of Navarra, School of Engineering, 20009 Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain.
PMID: 41708064 DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.5c02329
Abstract

Developing effective treatments for malignant melanoma remains a complex challenge, requiring models that accurately replicate the tumor microenvironment to study metastasis and drug response. Whereas in vitro models have become essential tools due to their tunability and controllability, systems incorporating both biomimetic extracellular matrices (ECM) and vascular components are more complex and therefore remain challenging. In this study, we present an in vitro melanoma model comprising a dermal decellularized ECM (dECM) together with both blood and lymphatic vessels, cultured within a commercial microfluidic platform that enables high-throughput testing. Our system features a triculture melanoma spheroid embedded within a dermis dECM hydrogel and flanked by vascular structures, effectively recreating key aspects of the melanoma microenvironment, as confirmed by immunostaining for canonical markers and morphological resemblance. Proof-of-concept drug testing demonstrates the model's suitability for high-throughput drug screening, as validated by cytotoxicity assays. The complexity and biomimetic nature of this model provides a robust platform for studying melanoma progression, tumor-vascular interactions, and therapeutic responses, ultimately offering a promising alternative for in vitro melanoma research and drug development.

Keywords

dECM; drug testing; lymphatic; melanoma; microfluidic; vascularization.

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