An Innervated and Vascularized HNSCC-on-a-Chip Model Built on Defined and Tunable Engineered Extracellular Matrices

Pignataro, A. M.; Schwarz, C. C.; Wiechec, E.; Cordiale, A.; Sasikumar, S.; Jenssen, A.; Aryaberg, T.; Khare, L. P.; Apu, E. H.; Roberg, K.; Naeimipour, S.; Basile Carballo, G.; Szczot, M.; Aili, D.; Rasponi, M.; Pagella, P.

doi:10.64898/2026.01.16.699893

bioRxiv · 10.64898/2026.01.16.699893

An Innervated and Vascularized HNSCC-on-a-Chip Model Built on Defined and Tunable Engineered Extracellular Matrices

Pignataro, A. M.·Schwarz, C. C.·Wiechec, E.·Cordiale, A.·Sasikumar, S.·Jenssen, A.·Aryaberg, T.·Khare, L. P.·Apu, E. H.·Roberg, K.·Naeimipour, S.·Basile Carballo, G.·Szczot, M.·Aili, D.·Rasponi, M.·Pagella, P.

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Abstract

Understanding the tumor microenvironment (TME) requires experimental platforms that faithfully recapitulate its key components. Here, we present an innervated and vascularized head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC)-on-a-chip platform built with fully defined and tunable engineered extracellular matrices (eECMs). In a stepwise increase of complexity, we first co-cultured patient-derived HNSCC cells, cancer-associated fibroblasts, and endothelial cells within tailored eECMs, revealing matrix-dependent differences in self-organization and chemotherapeutic sensitivity. We then integrated these 3D constructs into a cancer-vasculature-interface, which enabled analysis of eECM-dependent directional collective migration and metastatization. Finally, we incorporated HNSCC-specific innervation through injectable 3D human bioengineered trigeminal ganglia, establishing a chip-based innervation-tumor-vasculature tri-interface. Together, this all-human platform captures fundamental determinants of HNSCC progression, including a fully defined ECM, vasculature, and innervation, within a single modular system that is broadly adaptable for interrogating how the tumor microenvironment shapes solid tumor behavior and therapeutic responses. TeaserHNSCC-on-a-chip integrates defined ECM, vasculature, and innervation to investigate tumor behavior and therapeutic responses.

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Pignataro, A. M., Schwarz, C. C., Wiechec, E., Cordiale, A., Sasikumar, S., Jenssen, A., Aryaberg, T., Khare, L. P., Apu, E. H., Roberg, K., Naeimipour, S., Basile Carballo, G., Szczot, M., Aili, D., Rasponi, M., Pagella, P.. 2026-01-20. An Innervated and Vascularized HNSCC-on-a-Chip Model Built on Defined and Tunable Engineered Extracellular Matrices. https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.01.16.699893

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