Vessel-on-a-chip models for studying microvascular physiology, transport, and function in vitro
Abstract
To understand how the microvasculature grows and remodels, researchers require reproducible systems that emulate the function of living tissue. Innovative contributions toward fulfilling this important need have been made by engineered microvessels assembled in vitro using microfabrication techniques. Microfabricated vessels, commonly referred to as "vessels on a chip," are from a class of cell culture technologies that uniquely integrate microscale flow phenomena, tissue-level biomolecular transport, cell-cell interactions, and proper 3-D extracellular matrix environments under well-defined culture conditions. Here, we discuss the enabling attributes of microfabricated vessels that make these models more physiological compared to established cell culture techniques, and the potential of these models for advancing microvascular research. This review highlights the key features of microvascular transport and physiology, critically discusses the strengths and limitations of different microfabrication strategies for studying the microvasculature, and provides a perspective on current challenges and future opportunities for vessel on a chip models.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Nov 11, 2020
- Source ID
- 10.1152/ajpcell.00355.2020
Entities
People
- Andre F. Palmer
- Jonathan J. Adorno
- Jonathan W. Song
- Savannah R. Moses
Organizations
- American Heart Association
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
- Ohio State University
- The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research
- United States Department of Defense