Microvascular Network Formation and Integration within Perfused Microfluidic Poly(ethylene glycol) Hydrogels

摘要

We demonstrate the integration of a proteolytically degradable microfluidic PEG hydrogel with a tubulogenic co-culture of HUVECs and 10T Vi cells. The tubulogenic co-culture was shown to form robust, functional 3D microvascular networks as indicated by the presence of capillary lumens, positive expression of the endothelial marker PECAM, and network stabilization by pericytes positive for SM-aactin. Furthermore, we observed significant changes in capillary network properties as a function of distance from the perfused microfluidic channel (Fig 2). Total tubule number was shown to be significantly greater in the nutrient rich regions nearest the perfused microchannel (0-600 urn) at 48 and 96 h of culture. Finally, perfusion of the microfluidic network with fluorescent dextran demonstrated rapid convective like transport and co-localization of the dextran signal within tubule structures (Fig 3) which is thought to indicate a shift in tissue bed transport regimes from diffusion through a matrix to convective anastomotic transport through vessel lumens.