AccScience Publishing / IJB / Volume 11 / Issue 6 / DOI: 10.36922/IJB025320314
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REVIEW ARTICLE

3D bioprinting–microfluidics technology: Pioneering advances in tumor microenvironment modeling, cancer treatment optimization, and diagnostic biomarker discovery

Wang Wang1† ,  Zhicheng Zhang1† ,  Yang Yu1† ,  Yikang Wang1† ,  Kai Ni1*
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1 Department of Urology, Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
†These authors contributed equally to this work.
IJB 2025, 11(6), 23–50; https://doi.org/10.36922/IJB025320314
Received: 6 August 2025 | Accepted: 12 September 2025 | Published online: 17 September 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 3D-Printed Biomedical Devices)
© 2025 by the Author(s).. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ )
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Abstract

Conventional tumor models have historically failed to fully recapitulate the intricate pathophysiological complexity and dynamic microenvironment of human malignancies, significantly limiting their translational potential. The recent convergence of microfluidic technology and 3D bioprinting has ushered in a paradigm shift in oncology research, enabling more physiologically relevant models. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the limitations inherent in traditional tumor modeling platforms and elaborates on the fundamental principles underlying microfluidics and additive manufacturing. It systematically explores the integrated applications of 3D-bioprinting–microfluidics systems across three core domains: engineering pathomimetic tumor models, advancing therapeutic screening platforms, and developing high-sensitivity diagnostic tools. This interdisciplinary synergy allows for unprecedented spatiotemporal control over the tumor microenvironment, precise biochemical gradient formation, and seamless integration of functional biosensors. The review further discusses persistent challenges—such as material biocompatibility, fabrication scalability, and the need for standardized validation—and proposes future directions—including the development of multiorgan-on-chip systems, stimuli-responsive biomaterials, and artificial intelligence-enhanced analytical frameworks. The continued integration of 3D bioprinting and microfluidics holds transformative potential for accelerating precision oncology and improving clinical outcomes.  

Graphical abstract
Keywords
3D printing
Cancer treatment optimization
Diagnostic biomarker discovery
Microfluidic technology
Tumor microenvironment model
Funding
This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant number: 82103260 to K.N.); the Shanghai Rising-Star Program (grant number: 22QA1407100 to K.N.); the Excellent Youth Cultivation Program of Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital (grant number: ynyq202204 to K.N.); and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital (grant number: X-2490 to K.N.).
Conflict of interest
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
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International Journal of Bioprinting, Electronic ISSN: 2424-8002 Print ISSN: 2424-7723, Published by AccScience Publishing
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