ECM-based microchannel for culturing in vitro vascular tissues with simultaneous perfusion and stretch.

Shimizu, Azusa; Goh, Wei Huang; Itai, Shun; Hashimoto, Michinao; Miura, Shigenori; Onoe, Hiroaki · Lab Chip · 2020

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

We present an extracellular matrix (ECM)-based stretchable microfluidic system for culturing in vitro three-dimensional (3D) vascular tissues, which mimics in vivo blood vessels. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) can be cultured under perfusion and stretch simultaneously with real-time imaging by our proposed system. Our ECM (transglutaminase (TG) cross-linked gelatin)-based microchannel was fabricated by dissolving water-soluble sacrificial polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) molds printed with a 3D printer. Flows in the microchannel were analyzed under perfusion and stretch. We demonstrated simultaneous perfusion and stretch of TG gelatin-based microchannels culturing HUVECs. We suggest that our TG gelatin-based stretchable microfluidic system proves to be a useful tool for understanding the mechanisms of vascular tissue formation and mechanotransduction.

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