ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the key of native mammary tissue influencing engineered 3D mammary systems, discusses existing 3D breast models, and highlights a new composite 3D system. The multiple cellular and tissue components of the breast, specific mechanical properties, and various other microenvironmental cues affect physiological tissue processes in the breast, and as such, these significant parameters should be considered in the design of engineered 3D mammary tissue systems. In addition to the mechanical and physical properties of the breast, the breast's normal microenvironment has to be considered when developing engineered breast tissue systems as the tissue mechanical, physical, and chemical cues are responsible for regulating mammary cell behavior. With the continued development and advancement of 3D mammary tissue systems, there is great promise for the knowledge attained from these highly optimized, physiologically relevant systems to significantly impact breast-related research.
