3D Anastomosed Microvascular Network Model with Living Capillary Networks and Endothelial Cell-Lined Microfluidic Channels

Xiaolin Wang; Duc T T Phan; Steven C George; Christopher C W Hughes; Abraham P Lee

doi:10.1007/978-1-4939-7021-6_24

3D Anastomosed Microvascular Network Model with Living Capillary Networks and Endothelial Cell-Lined Microfluidic Channels

Methods Mol Biol. 2017:1612:325-344. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4939-7021-6_24.

Authors

Xiaolin Wang¹, Duc T T Phan², Steven C George³, Christopher C W Hughes^{4

5

6}, Abraham P Lee^{7

8}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Micro/Nano Electronics, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China.
² Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA.
³ Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, Saint Louis, MO, 63130, USA.
⁴ Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA. cchughes@uci.edu.
⁵ Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA. cchughes@uci.edu.
⁶ Edwards Lifesciences Center for Advanced Cardiovascular Technology, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA. cchughes@uci.edu.
⁷ Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA. aplee@uci.edu.
⁸ Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA. aplee@uci.edu.

Abstract

This protocol describes detailed practical procedures for generating 3D intact and perfusable microvascular network that connects to microfluidic channels without appreciable leakage. This advanced 3D microvascular network model incorporates different stages of vascular development including vasculogenesis, endothelial cell (EC) lining, sprouting angiogenesis, and anastomosis in sequential order. The capillary network is first induced via vasculogenesis in a middle tissue chamber and then EC linings along the microfluidic channel on either side serve as artery and vein. The anastomosis is then induced by sprouting angiogenesis to facilitate tight interconnection between the artery/vein and the capillary network. This versatile device design and its robust construction methodology establish a physiological microcirculation transport model of interconnected perfused vessels from artery to vascularized tissue to vein.

Keywords: 3D microvascular network; Anastomosis; EC lining; Microfluidic chip; Non-physiological leakage; Organ-on-a-chip; Sprouting angiogenesis; Vasculogenesis.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

Capillaries / cytology*
Cells, Cultured
Endothelial Cells / cytology*
Humans
Lab-On-A-Chip Devices
Microfluidics / instrumentation
Microfluidics / methods*
Models, Biological
Tissue Engineering / instrumentation
Tissue Engineering / methods

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding