Vascular network-inspired fluidic system (VasFluidics) with spatially functionalizable membranous walls

Area of Science:

• Biomimetic systems
• Synthetic biology
• Fluid dynamics

Background:

• Vascular networks regulate blood composition via trans-wall transport.
• Existing synthetic channels lack functional heterogeneity for spatiotemporal control.
• Replicating vascular transport is key for advanced synthetic fluidic systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a vascular network-inspired fluidic system (VasFluidics) with spatially heterogeneous trans-wall transport.
• To enable programmable, spatiotemporal regulation of fluid compositions in synthetic systems.
• To overcome limitations of impermeable or homogeneous synthetic channel walls.

Main Methods:

• Utilized embedded three-dimensional (3D) printing for fabricating elastic, ultrathin, semipermeable walls.
• Employed electrostatic self-assembly for wall construction.
• Localized physicochemical reactions and immobilized enzymes on channel exteriors for regional control.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated functionalizability for spatially distinct trans-wall transport.
• Achieved localized regulation of trans-wall molecules in separate channel regions.
• Successfully mimicked spatiotemporal changes in fluid composition, such as glucose metabolism.

Conclusions:

• VasFluidics offers a novel approach to spatiotemporal fluid composition regulation.
• The system replicates natural biofluid processing, offering an alternative to traditional fluidics.
• Enables new possibilities in designing advanced synthetic fluidic devices.