A Lightweight, 3D‐Printable, Low‐Cost, “One‐Click” Dorsal Skin Window for High‐Quality Long‐Term Multimodal Subcutaneous Tumor Imaging

Intravital microscopy (IVM) using dorsal skinfold chambers (DSCs) enables real-time, high-resolution imaging of the tumor microenvironment. Conventional, metal-based DSC systems often cause animal distress and require technically demanding surgical implantation. To address these challenges and adhere to the 3Rs principles of animal welfare, this study presents a novel, stereolithography (SLA)-based, 3D-printed DSC featuring a lightweight (0.69 g) biocompatible resin structure and a suture-free "one-click" fixation system. This affordable device simplifies surgical installation and minimizes postoperative inflammation, allowing continuous multimodal imaging-IVM, micro-CT, ultrasound, and in vivo fluorescence-for up to four weeks. The system is validated in mice bearing subcutaneous tumors generated from PDAC93-GFP pancreatic tumor organoids implanted in the DSC. Longitudinal, high-resolution imaging successfully tracks tumor expansion, active stromal remodeling characterized by progressive collagen fiber compaction and alignment, and the emergence of a highly tortuous peritumoral vascular network. Furthermore, in vivo tracking in Catchup mice reveals a distinct transition of tumor-associated neutrophils from random acute inflammatory migration to directed tumor-driven chemotaxis. Overall, this ergonomic and robust DSC design provides a highly reliable platform for sustained, high-quality assessment of tumor-stroma-immune interactions and therapeutic responses, while notably improving animal welfare.

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Publication Details

Journal
Advanced Healthcare Materials
Published
2026-07-24
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/adhm.71452
Primary Topic
3D Printing in Biomedical Research
Type
article
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article

A Lightweight, 3D‐Printable, Low‐Cost, “One‐Click” Dorsal Skin Window for High‐Quality Long‐Term Multimodal Subcutaneous Tumor Imaging

Cristina Ederra, Iván Cortés‐Domínguez, Lara Grande, Xabier Morales et al.
Advanced Healthcare Materials
3D Printing in Biomedical Research
article

A Lightweight, 3D‐Printable, Low‐Cost, “One‐Click” Dorsal Skin Window for High‐Quality Long‐Term Multimodal Subcutaneous Tumor Imaging

Cristina Ederra, Iván Cortés‐Domínguez, Lara Grande, Xabier Morales, Carlos Ortíz-de-Solórzano, Álvaro Teijeira, Ainhoa Urbiola, Maider Esparza, Beatrice Pinci, Tomás Muñoz Santoro
article en

Abstract

Intravital microscopy (IVM) using dorsal skinfold chambers (DSCs) enables real-time, high-resolution imaging of the tumor microenvironment. Conventional, metal-based DSC systems often cause animal distress and require technically demanding surgical implantation. To address these challenges and adhere to the 3Rs principles of animal welfare, this study presents a novel, stereolithography (SLA)-based, 3D-printed DSC featuring a lightweight (0.69 g) biocompatible resin structure and a suture-free "one-click" fixation system. This affordable device simplifies surgical installation and minimizes postoperative inflammation, allowing continuous multimodal imaging-IVM, micro-CT, ultrasound, and in vivo fluorescence-for up to four weeks. The system is validated in mice bearing subcutaneous tumors generated from PDAC93-GFP pancreatic tumor organoids implanted in the DSC. Longitudinal, high-resolution imaging successfully tracks tumor expansion, active stromal remodeling characterized by progressive collagen fiber compaction and alignment, and the emergence of a highly tortuous peritumoral vascular network. Furthermore, in vivo tracking in Catchup mice reveals a distinct transition of tumor-associated neutrophils from random acute inflammatory migration to directed tumor-driven chemotaxis. Overall, this ergonomic and robust DSC design provides a highly reliable platform for sustained, high-quality assessment of tumor-stroma-immune interactions and therapeutic responses, while notably improving animal welfare.

Advanced Healthcare Materials
Navarre Institute of Health Research (ES), Tecnalia (ES), Clinica Universidad de Navarra (ES), Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (ES), Universidad de Navarra (ES)
Openalex Percentile: Top 15%
3D Printing in Biomedical Research
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