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Updated: May 18, 2026
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Micropatterning and Assembly of 3D Microvessels
Published on: September 9, 2016
Patterning microscale extracellular matrices to study endothelial and cancer cell interactions in vitro
Laura E Dickinson1, Cornelis Lütgebaucks, Daniel M Lewis
1Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins Physical Sciences- Oncology Center, and the Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA.
Lab on a Chip
|September 21, 2012
Summary
Researchers developed novel microstructured systems to study tumor angiogenesis by co-culturing endothelial colony forming cells (ECFCs) and breast cancer cells (BCCs) within defined extracellular matrix (ECM) components like fibronectin (Fn) and hyaluronic acid (HA).
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Cancer Biology
- Tissue Engineering
Background:
- The tumor microenvironment's extracellular matrix (ECM) influences cell behavior and tumor progression.
- Fibronectin (Fn) supports vascular network formation, while hyaluronic acid (HA) promotes breast tumor development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop spatially defined systems for co-culturing endothelial colony forming cells (ECFCs) and breast cancer cells (BCCs).
- To investigate the spatial and temporal mechanisms regulating tumor angiogenesis within a controlled microenvironment.
Main Methods:
- Sequential microcontact printing of HA and Fn to create micropatterned co-culture systems.
- Development of microstructured hydrogels to spatially organize BCC-laden HA adjacent to ECFCs in fibrin.
Main Results:
- Initial micropatterning supported ECFC adhesion to Fn but not BCC adhesion to HA.
- A microstructured analog system was successfully developed for co-culture of ECFCs and BCCs with spatial organization.
Conclusions:
- Novel miniaturized systems enable the analysis of tumor angiogenesis mechanisms.
- These systems can be adapted to mimic other healthy and diseased tissue microenvironments.
