title: Hydrogels to model 3D in vitro microenvironment of tumor vascularization.
abstract: A growing number of failing clinical trials for cancer therapy are substantiating the need to upgrade the current practice in culturing tumor cells and modeling tumor angiogenesis in vitro. Many attempts have been made to engineer vasculature in vitro by utilizing hydrogels, but the application of these tools in simulating in vivo tumor angiogenesis is still very new. In this review, we explore current use of hydrogels and their design parameters to engineer vasculogenesis and angiogenesis and to evaluate the angiogenic capability of cancerous cells and tissues. By coupling these hydrogels with other technologies such as lithography and three-dimensional printing, one can create an advanced microvessel model as microfluidic channels to more accurately capture the native angiogenesis process.
authors: Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins Physical Sciences - Oncology Center and Institute for NanoBioTechnology, 3400 North Charles street, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA.
authors: Hyun-Ho Greco
authors: HH
authors: Song
authors: Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins Physical Sciences - Oncology Center and Institute for NanoBioTechnology, 3400 North Charles street, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA.
authors: Kyung Min
authors: KM
authors: Park
authors: Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins Physical Sciences - Oncology Center and Institute for NanoBioTechnology, 3400 North Charles street, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA. Electronic address: gerecht@jhu.edu.
authors: Sharon
authors: S
authors: Gerecht
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D006801:Humans; D020100:Hydrogels; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D044085:Microfluidics / Q000379:methods; D008954:Models, Biological; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply*; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000378:metabolism*; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods; D059016:Tumor Microenvironment / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D020100:Hydrogels
keywords: Angiogenesis; ECM remodeling; Hydrogel; Three-dimensional cell culture; Tumor modeling