Lechner Markus, Kolz Anna, Herre Kristina, Matzek Dana, Schomburg Adrian, Popper Bastian
Eisbach Bio GmbH, Am Klopferspitz 19, 82152, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany.
Biomedical Center, Core Facility Animal Models, Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig- Maximilians-Universität München, Großhaderner Straße 9, 82152, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany.
3D Print Med. 2025 Apr 7;11(1):17. doi: 10.1186/s41205-025-00264-z.
Xenograft mouse models play an important role in preclinical cancer research, particularly in the development of new therapeutics. To test the efficacy of a combination therapy consisting of radiation and new drug candidates, it is crucial that only the tumor area is irradiated, while other parts of the body are shielded. In this study, a 3D-printed radiopaque back shield was designed for tumor-specific irradiation and evaluated in a xenograft mouse model.
Different radiopaque materials were initially tested for their shielding properties using the Multirad 225 X-ray irradiator and the most suitable material was used for printing a back shield with a tumor site-specific opening of the cover. Tumor bearing mice were irradiated four times with a dose of 3.5 Gy. To evaluate proper body shielding, blood samples, spleens and bone marrow were examined at the end of the experiment.
A tungsten filament was identified to be most efficient for shielding and used to 3D print a pie-slice-shaped back shield with a tumor-site specific opening, while polylactic acid was used to print a scaffold that ensured proper positioning of the shield. The simple design allowed cost-efficient and fast 3D printing, easy handling and individual modifications of the tumor site openings. In terms of animal safety, the product provided sufficient shielding in the low-dose irradiation protocols of xenograft mice.
The custom-designed 3D-printed tungsten back shields provide proper shielding of the animals body and allow for subcutaneous tumor irradiation under standardized conditions.
异种移植小鼠模型在临床前癌症研究中发挥着重要作用，尤其是在新疗法的开发中。为了测试由放疗和新候选药物组成的联合疗法的疗效，至关重要的是仅对肿瘤区域进行照射，同时身体的其他部位要得到屏蔽。在本研究中，设计了一种3D打印的不透射线的背部屏蔽物用于肿瘤特异性照射，并在异种移植小鼠模型中进行了评估。
最初使用Multirad 225 X射线辐照器测试了不同不透射线材料的屏蔽性能，并使用最合适的材料打印了一种背部屏蔽物，其盖子上有肿瘤部位特异性开口。给荷瘤小鼠照射4次，剂量为3.5 Gy。为了评估身体屏蔽是否合适，在实验结束时对血液样本、脾脏和骨髓进行了检查。
确定钨丝的屏蔽效率最高，并用于3D打印一个带有肿瘤部位特异性开口的扇形背部屏蔽物，同时使用聚乳酸打印一个支架以确保屏蔽物的正确定位。这种简单的设计允许进行经济高效且快速的3D打印、易于操作以及对肿瘤部位开口进行个性化修改。在动物安全性方面，该产品在异种移植小鼠的低剂量照射方案中提供了足够的屏蔽。
定制设计的3D打印钨制背部屏蔽物为动物身体提供了适当的屏蔽，并允许在标准化条件下对皮下肿瘤进行照射。
