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Exploring Endothelial Expansion on a Chip.
Joanna Konopka1, Dominik Kołodziejek1, Magdalena Flont2
1Faculty of Chemistry, Warsaw University of Technology, 00-661 Warszawa, Poland.
Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)
|December 11, 2022
Summary
Researchers developed an angiogenesis-on-a-chip microplatform using Viscous Finger Patterning (VFP) to study new blood vessel growth. This platform shows that Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) at specific concentrations promotes cell migration, aiding in cancer and cardiovascular disease research.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Cell Biology
- Vascular Biology
Background:
- Angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels, is crucial for development but its dysregulation is implicated in cancers and cardiovascular diseases.
- Understanding angiogenesis mechanisms is vital for developing effective treatments for these leading causes of death.
- Current research necessitates advanced models to study angiogenesis in controlled environments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design and fabricate an angiogenesis-on-a-chip microplatform for studying blood vessel development.
- To investigate the role of Viscous Finger Patterning (VFP) in creating microvessels.
- To assess the angiogenic potential of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs).
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of cylindrical microvessels using the Viscous Finger Patterning (VFP) technique.
- Seeding of Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (HUVECs) within the microvessels.
- Assessment of HUVEC migration in response to varying concentrations of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) (5-100 ng/mL).
- Visualization of cell morphology and spatial arrangement using fluorescence and confocal microscopy.
Main Results:
- Optimization of the VFP technique demonstrated that lumen diameter is dependent on droplet volume.
- Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) solutions at concentrations ranging from 5 to 50 ng/mL exhibited significant angiogenic potential.
- HUVEC migration towards angiogenic stimuli was observed after overnight incubation, indicating a functional response.
Conclusions:
- The developed angiogenesis-on-a-chip platform provides a robust model for studying microvessel formation and endothelial cell behavior.
- The study confirms the pro-angiogenic effect of VEGF within the tested concentration range.
- This microplatform serves as a foundation for creating more complex vascularized multi-organ-on-a-chip systems for drug screening and disease modeling.
