title: Engineering interconnected 3D vascular networks in hydrogels using molded sodium alginate lattice as the sacrificial template.
abstract: Engineering 3D perfusable vascular networks in vitro and reproducing the physiological environment of blood vessels is very challenging for tissue engineering and investigation of blood vessel function. Here, we engineer interconnected 3D microfluidic vascular networks in hydrogels using molded sodium alginate lattice as sacrificial templates. The sacrificial templates are rapidly replicated in polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microfluidic chips via Ca⁺²-crosslinking and then fully encapsulated in hydrogels. Interconnected channels with well controlled size and morphology are obtained by dissolving the monolayer or multilayer templates with EDTA solution. The human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) are cultured on the channel linings and proliferated to form vascular lumens. The strong cell adhesion capability and adaptive response to shear stress demonstrate the excellent cytocompatibility of both the template and template-sacrificing process. Furthermore, the barrier function of the endothelial layer is characterized and the results show that a confluent endothelial monolayer is fully developed. Taken together, we develop a facile and rapid approach to engineer a vascular model that could be potentially used in physiological studies of vascular functions and vascular tissue engineering.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Biology and Medicine (Ministry of Education), College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China. whhuang@whu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Xue-Ying
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Zi-He
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Bo-Wen
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Gan
authors.forename: Song-Wei
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Lv
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Wei-Hua
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000464:Alginates / Q000737:chemistry; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D065096:Calcium Chelating Agents / Q000737:chemistry; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002470:Cell Survival; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004129:Dimethylpolysiloxanes / Q000737:chemistry; D004492:Edetic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D004867:Equipment Design; D020723:Glucuronic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D006603:Hexuronic Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D061307:Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells; D006801:Humans; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry*; D008422:Materials Testing; D046210:Microfluidic Analytical Techniques; D066330:Printing, Three-Dimensional; D033081:Shear Strength; D012995:Solubility; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000295:instrumentation*; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000464:Alginates; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D065096:Calcium Chelating Agents; D004129:Dimethylpolysiloxanes; D006603:Hexuronic Acids; D020100:Hydrogels; C013830:baysilon; D020723:Glucuronic Acid; D004492:Edetic Acid