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A Novel Three-dimensional Flow Chamber Device to Study Chemokine-directed Extravasation of Cells Circulating under Physiological Flow Conditions
Published on: July 15, 2013
A multichamber fluidic device for 3D cultures under interstitial flow with live imaging: development,
Carmen Bonvin1, Jan Overney, Adrian C Shieh
1Institute of Bioengineering, School of Life Sciences/LMBM/Station 15, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne 1015, Switzerland.
Biotechnology and Bioengineering
|December 3, 2009
Summary
A new nine-chamber device enables simultaneous 3D fluidic experiments for studying interstitial flow effects on cell behavior, including capillary morphogenesis and tumor microenvironments, with live imaging capabilities.
Area of Science:
- Biophysics
- Cell Biology
- Bioengineering
Background:
- Interstitial flow is a critical biophysical cue influencing cell behaviors like capillary morphogenesis and tumor cell migration.
- Existing live-imaging models for interstitial flow lack the capacity for multiple simultaneous experiments, limiting comparative studies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce a novel nine-chamber radial flow device for simultaneous, long-term 3D fluidic culture with live imaging.
- To enable comparative studies on the effects of interstitial flow on various cell types and conditions.
Main Methods:
- Development of a nine-chamber radial flow device for 3D cell culture.
- Characterization of flow velocity profiles using fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP).
- Demonstration of capillary morphogenesis, fibroblast culture, and tumor microenvironment modeling under interstitial flow.
Main Results:
- The device supports simultaneous 3D fluidic experiments with live imaging for extended periods (10 days).
- Demonstrated lymphatic and blood capillary morphogenesis in fibrin gels under flow versus static conditions.
- Showcased the influence of an engineered VEGF variant and the culture of contractile fibroblasts and tumor co-cultures.
Conclusions:
- The radial flow device facilitates simultaneous, long-term studies of interstitial flow's impact on cellular processes.
- It is valuable for research in capillary morphogenesis, cell migration, fibroblast behavior, and tumor microenvironment modeling.
- This tool enhances the ability to compare different experimental conditions within a single study.
