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.
* These authors contributed equally to this work.
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Acknowledgments
This work was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health: UH3 TR00048 and PQD5 CA180122. C.C.W.H. receives support from the Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center (CFCCC) through an NCI Center Grant award P30A062203. X.W. receives support from National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 31600781). We would also like to thank the permission of The Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) for reproduction of materials from Lab on a Chip journal.
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Wang, X., Phan, D.T.T., George, S.C., Hughes, C.C.W., Lee, A.P. (2017). 3D Anastomosed Microvascular Network Model with Living Capillary Networks and Endothelial Cell-Lined Microfluidic Channels. In: Koledova, Z. (eds) 3D Cell Culture. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 1612. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-7021-6_24
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-7021-6_24
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Publisher Name: Humana Press, New York, NY
Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-7019-3
Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-7021-6
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