Fig. 5

Fabrication of a microvascular network by microfluidic systems. A Cross-sectional imaging thickness and Z-position = 10 μm for representative channels (optical channels) after 9 days of microfluidic perfusion culture of endothelial cells in a sacrificial lattice. (Figure reprinted with permission from Ref. [70]). B, a Schematic diagram of the printed vascular channel construct. b Fluorescence image of the printed vascular channel construct by wide-field microscope. HUVECs are visualized in red, beads flow in green. (Figure reprinted with permission from Ref. [69]). C Endothelialized channels are readily fabricated in the presence of encapsulated stromal cells. A single-layer channel was generated by photodegradation. Channels were then endothelialized with HUVECs, cultured for 4 days, fixed, and stained for F-actin (red). The sample is viewed (a–c) as Z-, X-, and Y-direction maximum intensity projections. (Figure reprinted with permission from Ref. [49]). D In vitro microvascular network model of the peritoneum. a PDMS mold with patterned channels were fabricated using soft lithography and bonded to a glass coverslip. The central gel region (green) contained cells and a fibrin hydrogel. The side channels and reservoirs (purple) as well as the top channel and reservoir (orange) were filled with cell culture medium. Scale bar, 3 mm. b A confocal microscopy image of the microvascular networks within the device, in which ECs express GFP, cell nuclei are stained with DAPI (blue), and lipid droplets in Acs are stained with LipidTox (white). Scale bar, 30 μm. (Figure reprinted with permission from Ref. [76]). E Create a tricompartmental model of the arteriole-to-capillary-to-venule microvasculature. Capillaries (middle) modeled by perfusable MVNs made from endothelial cells (EC, green) and fibroblasts (FB) in fibrin gel, venule (left) modeled by collagen channel with EC monolayer, arteriole (right) modeled by collagen channel with smooth muscle cells (SMC, magenta); the scale bar is 250 μm. (Figure reprinted with permission from Ref. [77]) F The modular microfluidic system combines two PDMS layers. The different morphological properties of the capillaries generated using diamond-, half-rectangle and rectangle-shaped chambers were analyzed. The rectangle-shaped tissue chambers generated the largest capillaries. (Figure reprinted with permission from Ref. [79])