Double-layer perfusable collagen microtube device for heterogeneous cell culture

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Engineering
• Tissue Engineering
• Cell Culture Technology

Background:

• In vitro 3D tissue models are crucial for drug testing, but their fabrication is often complex.
• Existing methods lack simplicity and flexibility in creating perfusable, multilayered tissue constructs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a simple, double-layer perfusable collagen tube device for multilayered in vitro 3D cell culture.
• To demonstrate the device's capability for fabricating various tissue models, including vascularized ones.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of collagen tube devices using a repetitive molding process.
• Flexible design of collagen layer thicknesses for co-culturing heterogeneous cell types.
• Integration with silicone tubes and external pump systems for perfusion culture.

Main Results:

• Successfully fabricated six sizes of collagen devices (300-1000 μm inner diameter) with high dimensional control (CV < 5%).
• Demonstrated device stability (>3 months) and cell encapsulation with migration.
• Confirmed HUVEC actin filament alignment parallel to flow in perfusion culture.

Conclusions:

• The developed collagen tube device offers a simple and flexible platform for fabricating various in vitro 3D tissue models.
• This technology has potential applications in advancing pharmacokinetic testing platforms and regenerative medicine, particularly for vascularized tissue models.