A physiologically realistic in vitro model of microvascular networks

• Published in: Biomedical microdevices Vol. 11; no. 5; pp. 1051 - 1057
• Main Authors: Rosano, Jenna M., Tousi, Nazanin, Scott, Robert C., Krynska, Barbara, Rizzo, Victor, Prabhakarpandian, Balabhaskar, Pant, Kapil, Sundaram, Shivshankar, Kiani, Mohammad F.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Boston Springer US 01.10.2009; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and Medical Physics; Biomedical Engineering and Bioengineering; Biomimetics - methods; Biophysics; Blood Vessels - cytology; Cattle; Cell culture; Cell Survival - drug effects; Cricetinae; Dimethylpolysiloxanes - chemistry; Endothelial Cells - cytology; Endothelial Cells - drug effects; Engineering; Engineering Fluid Dynamics; Geometry; Humans; Medical technology; Microfluidic Analytical Techniques - methods; Muscles - blood supply; Nanotechnology; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - pharmacology; Veins & arteries; Adhesion molecules; Flow chamber; Microvascular network; Microfluidic device
• ISSN: 1387-2176; 1572-8781
• DOI: 10.1007/s10544-009-9322-8

Existing microfluidic devices, e.g. parallel plate flow chambers, do not accurately depict the geometry of microvascular networks in vivo . We have developed a synthetic microvascular network (SMN) on a polydimethalsiloxane (PDMS) chip that can serve as an in vitro model of the bifurcations, tortuosities, and cross-sectional changes found in microvascular networks in vivo . Microvascular networks from a cremaster muscle were mapped using a modified Geographical Information System, and then used to manufacture the SMNs on a PDMS chip. The networks were cultured with bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAEC), which reached confluency 3–4 days after seeding. Propidium iodide staining indicated viable and healthy cells showing normal behavior in these networks. Anti-ICAM-1 conjugated 2-μm microspheres adhered to BAEC cells activated with TNF-α in significantly larger numbers compared to control IgG conjugated microspheres. This preferential adhesion suggests that cultured cells retain an intact cytokine response in the SMN. This microfluidic system can provide novel insight into characterization of drug delivery particles and dynamic flow conditions in microvascular networks.