A group of researchers based in Abu Dhabi has developed a cost-effective technology that will accelerate cancer research, making it faster, cheaper, and more accurate. This advancement will also remove the necessity of testing cancer medications on humans.
The paper-based system enables scientists to grow tiny 3D tumors with ease, freeze them for future use, and test cancer drugs on them. These models mimic real human tumors, enhancing the reliability of drug testing. This discovery was made by researchers at New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD).
The Spheromatrix is a unique type of filter paper crafted to facilitate the controlled growth of tumors. Unlike other expensive and complex methods, this system allows researchers to create tumor samples that can be frozen and stored for later use, acting as ready-to-use models for testing cancer drugs as needed.
The research team is led by Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Bioengineering, Mohammad Qasaimeh, along with first author Postdoctoral Associate Ayoub Glia and colleagues at NYUAD’s Advanced Microfluidics and Microdevices Laboratory.
“Spheromatrix represents an important step forward in cancer research,” said Qasaimeh. “Its fiber-based structure provides a biocompatible environment for cells, allowing tumor models to behave more like real cancers. Preserving these models for long-term use accelerates preclinical testing, reduces the reliance on animal models, and opens new possibilities for patient-focused research.”
The team tested Spheromatrix with commercial chemotherapy drugs on brain tumor models. Preserved tumors responded similarly to real patient cancers, demonstrating the platform’s potential to offer reproducible, realistic, and scalable systems for drug screening.
Their research also indicated that the results were consistent before and after freezing, proving that the system retains drug response accurately.
According to Glia, the objective was to design a platform that is simple, reliable, and affordable, addressing a major bottleneck in cancer drug development. “By engineering paper to support tumor spheroids, we can grow, freeze, and reuse models for multiple experiments. We are now exploring the use of patient-derived samples to enable more personalized cancer therapies,” he stated.
Researchers from NYUAD have previously worked on numerous discoveries and significant projects ranging from art and activism to groundbreaking biotechnology and space travel. In June this year, a team of researchers devised a diagnostic device capable of detecting infectious diseases in under 10 minutes—providing a rapid, affordable, and portable solution for on-site screening of infectious diseases without the need for sophisticated lab equipment or trained personnel. Another study by NYUAD researchers concluded that high-energy particles from space, known as cosmic rays, could generate the energy required to support life underground on planets and moons within our solar system.
