title: Engineering of capillary-like structures in tissue constructs by electrochemical detachment of cells.
abstract: A major challenge in the development of functional thick tissues is the formation of vascular networks for oxygen and nutrient supply throughout the engineered tissue constructs. This study describes an electrochemical approach for fabrication of capillary-like structures, precisely aligned within micrometer distances, whose internal surfaces are covered with vascular endothelial cells. In this approach, an oligopeptide containing a cell adhesion domain (RGD) in the center and cysteine residues at both ends was designed. Cysteine has a thiol group that adsorbs onto a gold surface via a gold-thiolate bond. The cells attached to the gold surface via the oligopeptide were readily and noninvasively detached by applying a negative electrical potential and cleaving the gold-thiolate bond. This approach was applicable not only for a flat surface but also for various configurations, including cylindrical structures. By applying this approach to thin gold rods aligned in a spatially controlled manner in a perfusion culture device, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were transferred onto the internal surface of capillary structures in collagen gel. In the subsequent perfusion culture, the HUVECs grew into the collagen gel and formed luminal structures, thereby forming vascular networks in vitro.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Pure and Applied Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8573, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Seto
authors.forename: Rina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Inaba
authors.forename: Tomoaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Okuyama
authors.forename: Fumihiro
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sassa
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Junji
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fukuda
mesh_terms: D002196:Capillaries / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D055664:Electrochemical Techniques; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D009842:Oligopeptides; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; D006046:Gold