Engineering of functional, perfusable 3D microvascular networks on a chip

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Vascular Biology
• Tissue Engineering

Background:

• Generating perfusable 3D microvessels in vitro is crucial for tissue engineering and modeling blood vessel function.
• Existing in vitro models struggle to replicate endothelial cell dynamics for functional 3D vascular networks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a microfluidic platform for creating perfusable 3D microvessels in vitro.
• To model natural cellular programs of development and angiogenesis for vascular network formation.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a microfluidic-based platform for spatially controlled co-culture of endothelial cells with stromal fibroblasts, pericytes, or cancer cells.
• Modeled natural cellular programs found during development and angiogenesis.

Main Results:

• Successfully formed perfusable networks of intact 3D microvessels and tumor vasculatures.
• Microvessels exhibited in vivo-like morphological and biochemical markers, strong barrier function, and long-term stability.
• Demonstrated faithful responses to physiological shear stress, including cytoskeleton rearrangement and nitric oxide synthesis.

Conclusions:

• The platform enables the creation of functional 3D microvessels and tumor vasculatures in vitro.
• These microvessels support nutrient delivery and respond to mechanical stimuli, mimicking in vivo conditions.
• The platform offers broad applications in vascular physiology, organ-on-a-chip development, and pharmaceutical screening.