title: Control of vascular network location in millimeter-sized 3D-tissues by micrometer-sized collagen coated cells.
abstract: Engineering three-dimensional (3D) vascularized constructs remains a central challenge because capillary network structures are important for sufficient oxygen and nutrient exchange to sustain the viability of engineered constructs. However, construction of 3D-tissues at single cell level has yet to be reported. Previously, we established a collagen coating method for fabricating a micrometer-sized collagen matrix on cell surfaces to control cell distance or cell densities inside tissues. In this study, a simple fabrication method is presented for constructing vascular networks in 3D-tissues over micrometer-sized or even millimeter-sized with controlled cell densities. From the results, well vascularized 3D network structures can be observed with a fluorescence label method mixing collagen coated cells and endothelia cells, indicating that constructed ECM rich tissues have the potential for vascularization, which opens up the possibility for various applications in pharmaceutical or tissue engineering fields.
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, 2-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.
authors.forename: Chun-Yen
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, 2-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.
authors.forename: Michiya
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matsusaki
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Frontier of Biosciences, Osaka University, 1-3 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan. Electronic address: akashi@fbs.osaka-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Mitsuru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Akashi
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D002196:Capillaries / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003094:Collagen / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure; D061307:Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D057139:Nanofibers / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D003094:Collagen; D010100:Oxygen
keywords: Coating; Collagen; Endothelial cells; Location control; Tissue engineering; Vascularization