Functional endothelialized microvascular networks with circular cross-sections in a tissue culture substrate

• Published in: Biomedical microdevices Vol. 12; no. 1; pp. 71 - 79
• Main Authors: Borenstein, Jeffrey T, Tupper, Malinda M, Mack, Peter J, Weinberg, Eli J, Khalil, Ahmad S, Hsiao, James, García-Cardeña, Guillermo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Boston Boston : Springer US 01.02.2010; Springer US; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Biological and Medical Physics; Biomedical engineering; Biomedical Engineering and Bioengineering; Biomimetic Materials; Biophysics; Blood vessels; Blood Vessels - cytology; Blood Vessels - physiology; Cells, Cultured; Cellular biology; Endothelial Cells - cytology; Endothelial Cells - physiology; Engineering; Engineering Fluid Dynamics; Equipment Design; Equipment Failure Analysis; Fluid mechanics; Humans; Microvessels - cytology; Microvessels - physiology; Nanotechnology; Organ Culture Techniques - instrumentation; Perfusion - instrumentation; Perfusion - methods; Tissue engineering; Vascular networks; Polystyrene; Microfabrication; Microfluidics; Endothelial cells
• ISSN: 1387-2176; 1572-8781
• DOI: 10.1007/s10544-009-9361-1

Functional endothelialized networks constitute a critical building block for vascularized replacement tissues, organ assist devices, and laboratory tools for in vitro discovery and evaluation of new therapeutic compounds. Progress towards realization of these functional artificial vasculatures has been gated by limitations associated with the mechanical and surface chemical properties of commonly used microfluidic substrate materials and by the geometry of the microchannels produced using conventional fabrication techniques. Here we report on a method for constructing microvascular networks from polystyrene substrates commonly used for tissue culture, built with circular cross-sections and smooth transitions at bifurcations. Silicon master molds are constructed using an electroplating process that results in semi-circular channel cross-sections with smoothly varying radii. These master molds are used to emboss polystyrene sheets which are then joined to form closed bifurcated channel networks with circular cross-sections. The mechanical and surface chemical properties of these polystyrene microvascular network structures enable culture of endothelial cells along the inner lumen. Endothelial cell viability was assessed, documenting nearly confluent monolayers within 3D microfabricated channel networks with rounded cross-sections.