A high-throughput in vitro ring assay for vasoactivity using magnetic 3D bioprinting

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Pharmacology
• Vascular Biology

Background:

• Traditional wire myography for assessing vasoactivity is limited by high cost and low throughput.
• There is a need for efficient in vitro alternatives to study blood vessel responses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and validate a novel magnetic 3D bioprinting-based assay for measuring vasoactivity.
• To assess the utility of 3D printed vascular smooth muscle cell rings as a model for blood vessel segments.
• To demonstrate the assay's capability to detect drug-induced changes in vascular contraction.

Main Methods:

• Magnetic 3D bioprinting of vascular smooth muscle cells into functional 3D rings.
• Utilizing a cost-effective mobile device imaging modality for high-throughput contraction capture.
• Validating the assay using a panel of known vasoactive drugs and immunohistochemistry.

Main Results:

• The 3D printed rings functionally mimicked blood vessel segments, responding to vasodilators and vasoconstrictors.
• In vitro responses of the rings correlated with predictions from in vivo pharmacology.
• Immunohistochemistry supported the functional data, confirming the cellular integrity and response.

Conclusions:

• The magnetic 3D bioprinting assay robustly models vasoactivity.
• This novel assay provides a high-throughput, cost-effective in vitro alternative for drug screening and vascular research.
• The validated ring contraction assay meets the demand for advanced tools in pharmacological studies.