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Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a complex cellular process that allows cells to change their phenotype from epithelial to mesenchymal-like. Type 3 EMT occurs during cancer progression. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of RNA-binding motif single-stranded interacting protein 3 (RBMS 3) in the process of EMT. To investigate the impact of RBMS 3 on EMT, we performed immunohistochemical (IHC) reactions on archived paraffin blocks of invasive ductal breast carcinoma (n = 449), allowing us to analyze the correlation in expression between RBMS 3 and common markers of EMT. The IHC results confirmed the association of RBMS 3 with EMT markers. Furthermore, we performed an in vitro study using cellular models of triple negative and HER-2-enriched breast cancer with the overexpression and silencing of RBMS 3. RT-qPCR and Western blot methods were used to detect changes at both the mRNA and protein levels. An invasion assay and confocal microscopy were used to study the migratory potential of cells depending on the RBMS 3 expression. The studies conducted suggest that RBMS 3 may potentially act as an EMT-promoting agent in the most aggressive subtype of breast cancer, triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), but as an EMT suppressor in the HER-2-enriched subtype. The results of this study indicate the complex role of RBMS 3 in regulating the EMT process and present it as a future potential target for personalized therapies and a diagnostic marker in breast cancer.

Biomimetic scaffolds imitate native tissue and can take a multidimensional form. They are biocompatible and can influence cellular metabolism, making them attractive bioengineering platforms. The use of biomimetic scaffolds adds complexity to traditional cell cultivation methods. The most commonly used technique involves cultivating cells on a flat surface in a two-dimensional format due to its simplicity. A three-dimensional (3D) format can provide a microenvironment for surrounding cells. There are two main techniques for obtaining 3D structures based on the presence of scaffolding. Scaffold-free techniques consist of spheroid technologies. Meanwhile, scaffold techniques contain organoids and all constructs that use various types of scaffolds, ranging from decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM) through hydrogels that are one of the most extensively studied forms of potential scaffolds for 3D culture up to 4D bioprinted biomaterials. 3D bioprinting is one of the most important techniques used to create biomimetic scaffolds. The versatility of this technique allows the use of many different types of inks, mainly hydrogels, as well as cells and inorganic substances. Increasing amounts of data provide evidence of vast potential of biomimetic scaffolds usage in tissue engineering and personalized medicine, with the main area of potential application being the regeneration of skin and musculoskeletal systems. Recent papers also indicate increasing amounts of in vivo tests of products based on biomimetic scaffolds, which further strengthen the importance of this branch of tissue engineering and emphasize the need for extensive research to provide safe for humansbiomimetic tissues and organs. In this review article, we provide a review of the recent advancements in the field of biomimetic scaffolds preceded by an overview of cell culture technologies that led to the development of biomimetic scaffold techniques as the most complex type of cell culture.