Integrating perfusable vascular networks with a three-dimensional tissue in a microfluidic device.

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Tissue Engineering
• Microfluidics

Background:

• Vascular network creation is essential for tissue engineering applications.
• Current tissue models lack perfusable vascular networks, limiting long-term culture viability.
• Active perfusion is critical for nutrient and waste transport in engineered tissues.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a method for creating a three-dimensional cellular spheroid with a perfusable vascular network.
• To establish a functional vascular network within a microfluidic device for enhanced tissue culture.
• To enable long-term in vitro tissue culture through active perfusion.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a microfluidic device to co-culture human lung fibroblasts (hLFs) in a spheroid and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) in microchannels.
• Induced angiogenic sprouting from HUVECs towards the hLF spheroid.
• Established a continuous lumen connecting the microchannels to the spheroid.

Main Results:

• Successfully created a perfusable vascular network integrated with a cellular spheroid.
• Demonstrated the ability of the vascular network to administer biological substances into the spheroid.
• Achieved a continuous lumen formation through cellular interactions and angiogenic sprouting.

Conclusions:

• The developed perfusable vasculature model supports long-term tissue culture in vitro.
• This method overcomes limitations of static tissue models by enabling active perfusion.
• Opens new avenues for advanced tissue engineering and in vitro studies.