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Updated: Aug 10, 2026
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Endothelialized Microfluidics for Studying Microvascular Interactions in Hematologic Diseases
Published on: June 22, 2012
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Suspended Tissue Open Microfluidic Patterning (STOMP)
Amanda J Haack1,2, Lauren G Brown1, Alex J Goldstein3,4,5
1Department of Chemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA.
Advanced Science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)
|April 29, 2025
Summary
Scientists developed Suspended Tissue Open Microfluidic Patterning (STOMP) to create multi-regional suspended tissues. This method enables studying complex tissue interfaces and reveals altered cell contraction dynamics at these boundaries.
Area of Science:
- Mechanobiology
- Biomaterials Engineering
- Tissue Engineering
Background:
- Free-standing suspended tissues are valuable tools for studying cell contraction.
- Existing models typically consist of single-region tissues, limiting the study of complex tissue interfaces.
- Natural tissues often feature heterogeneous regions, such as diseased-healthy or tissue-type boundaries.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel method for creating multi-regional suspended tissues.
- To enable the study of complex tissue interfaces and their impact on cellular dynamics.
- To provide a versatile platform for generating engineered tissues with controlled spatial patterning.
Main Methods:
- Suspended Tissue Open Microfluidic Patterning (STOMP) utilizes open microfluidics and capillary pinning.
- This technique patterns subregions within free-standing engineered tissues.
- The method is compatible with native extracellular matrices and advanced 4D materials.
Main Results:
- STOMP successfully created multi-regional suspended tissues, including fibrotic-healthy engineered heart tissues and bone-ligament enthesis constructs.
- Altered contractile dynamics were observed in fibrotic-healthy tissues compared to single-region controls.
- Differential contractility was noted in bone-ligament enthesis constructs versus single-tissue periodontal ligament models.
Conclusions:
- STOMP is a versatile platform for generating patterned, free-standing tissues.
- The method facilitates the study of cellular behavior at complex tissue interfaces.
- STOMP combines the contractile functionality of suspended tissues with precise spatial control for advanced mechanobiology studies.
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