Engineering interconnected 3D vascular networks in hydrogels using molded sodium alginate lattice as the sacrificial template

Integrating microfluidics, hydrogels, and 3D bioprinting for personalized vessel-on-a-chip platforms

Thrombosis, a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, presents a complex challenge in cardiovascular medicine due to the intricacy of clotting mechanisms in living organisms. Traditional research approaches, including clinical studies and animal models, often yield conflicting results due to the inability to control variables in these complex systems, highlighting the need for more precise investigative tools. This review explores the evolution of in vitro thrombosis models, from conventional polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-based microfluidic devices to advanced hydrogel-based systems and cutting-edge 3D bioprinted vascular constructs. We discuss how these emerging technologies, particularly vessel-on-a-chip platforms, are enabling researchers to control previously unmanageable factors, thereby offering unprecedented opportunities to pinpoint specific clotting mechanisms. While PDMS-based devices offer optical transparency and fabrication ease, their inherent limitations, including non-physiological rigidity and surface properties, have driven the development of hydrogel-based systems that better mimic the extracellular matrix of blood vessels. The integration of microfluidics with biomimetic materials and tissue engineering approaches has led to the development of sophisticated models capable of simulating patient-specific vascular geometries, flow dynamics, and cellular interactions under highly controlled conditions. The advent of 3D bioprinting further enables the creation of complex, multi-layered vascular structures with precise spatial control over geometry and cellular composition. Despite significant progress, challenges remain in achieving long-term stability, incorporating immune components, and translating these models to clinical applications. By providing a comprehensive overview of current advancements and future prospects, this review aims to stimulate further innovation in thrombosis research and accelerate the development of more effective, personalized approaches to thrombosis prevention and treatment.

Facile photopatterning of perfusable microchannels in hydrogels for microphysiological systems

Perfusable hydrogels have garnered substantial attention in recent years for the fabrication of microphysiological systems. However, current methodologies to fabricate microchannels in hydrogel platforms involve sophisticated equipment and techniques, which hinder progress of the field. In this protocol, we present a cost-effective, simple, versatile and ultrafast method to create perfusable microchannels of complex shapes in photopolymerizable hydrogels. Our method uses one-step UV photocross-linking and a photomask printed on inexpensive transparent films, to photopattern both synthetic (PEG-norbornene) and natural (hyaluronic acid-norbornene) hydrogels in just 0.8 s. Moreover, these perfusable hydrogels are fully integrated into a custom-made microfluidic device that allows continuous fluid perfusion when connected to an external pump system. This methodology can be easily reproduced by professionals with basic laboratory skills and a fundamental knowledge of polymers and materials science. In this protocol, we demonstrate the functionality of our photopatterned hydrogels by seeding human endothelial cells into the microchannels, culturing them under dynamic conditions for 7 d, and exposing them to inflammatory stimuli to elicit cellular responses. This highlights the versatility of our platform in fabricating microphysiological systems and different microenvironments. The fabrication of perfusable channels within the hydrogels, including the fabrication of the microfluidic devices, requires ~3 d. The development of the cell-seeded microphysiological system, including the stimulation of cells, takes ~7 d. In conclusion, our approach provides a straightforward and widely applicable solution to simplify and reduce the cost of biofabrication techniques for developing functional in vitro models using perfusable three-dimensional hydrogels.

Fabrication of endothelialized capillary-like microchannel networks using sacrificial thermoresponsive microfibers

In the body, capillary beds fulfill the metabolic needs of cells by acting as the sites of diffusive transport for vital gasses and nutrients. In artificial tissues, replicating the scale and complexity of capillaries has proved challenging, especially in a three-dimensional context. In order to better develop thick artificial tissues, it will be necessary to recreate both the form and function of capillaries. Here we demonstrate a top-down method of patterning hydrogels using sacrificial templates formed from thermoresponsive microfibers whose size and architecture approach those of natural capillaries. Within the resulting microchannels, we cultured endothelial monolayers that remain viable for over three weeks and exhibited functional barrier properties. Additionally, we cultured endothelialized microchannels within hydrogels containing fibroblasts and characterized the viability of the co-cultures to demonstrate this approach's potential when applied to cell-laden hydrogels. This method represents a step forward in the evolution of artificial tissues and a path towards producing viable capillary-scale microvasculature for engineered organs.

Construction of a pumpless gravity-driven vascularized Skin-on-a-Chip for the study of hepatocytotoxicity in percutaneous exposure to exogenous chemicals

The utilization of existing Skin-on-a-Chip (SoC) is constrained by the complex structures, the multiplicity of auxiliary devices, and the inability to evaluate exogenous chemicals that are hepatotoxic after percutaneous metabolism. In this study, a gravity-driven SoC without any auxiliary devices was constructed for the hepatocytotoxicity study of exogenous chemicals. The SoC possesses 3 layers of culture chambers, from top to bottom, for human skin equivalent (HSE), Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (HUVEC) and hepatocytes (HepG2), and the maintenance and expression capacity of the corresponding cells on the SoC were verified by specificity parameters. The reactivity of the SoC to exogenous chemicals was verified by 2-aminofluorene (2-AF). The SoC can realistically simulate the in vivo exposure process of exogenous chemicals that are percutaneously exposed and metabolized into the bloodstream and then to the liver to produce toxicity, and it can achieve the same effects on transcriptome as those of animal tests at lower exposure levels while examining multiple toxicological targets of the skin, vascular endothelial cells, and hepatocytes. Both in terms of species similarity, the principles of reduction, replacement and refinement (3R), or the level of exposure suggest that the present SoC has a degree of replacement for animal models in assessing exogenous chemicals, especially those that are hepatotoxic after percutaneous metabolism.

Vascularized platforms for investigating cell communication via extracellular vesicles

The vascular network plays an essential role in the maintenance of all organs in the body via the regulated delivery of oxygen and nutrients, as well as tissue communication via the transfer of various biological signaling molecules. It also serves as a route for drug administration and affects pharmacokinetics. Due to this importance, engineers have sought to create physiologically relevant and reproducible vascular systems in tissue, considering cell-cell and extracellular matrix interaction with structural and physical conditions in the microenvironment. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have recently emerged as important carriers for transferring proteins and genetic material between cells and organs, as well as for drug delivery. Vascularized platforms can be an ideal system for studying interactions between blood vessels and EVs, which are crucial for understanding EV-mediated substance transfer in various biological situations. This review summarizes recent advances in vascularized platforms, standard and microfluidic-based techniques for EV isolation and characterization, and studies of EVs in vascularized platforms. It provides insights into EV-related (patho)physiological regulations and facilitates the development of EV-based therapeutics.

Tissue-Engineered Microvessels: A Review of Current Engineering Strategies and Applications

Microvessels, including arterioles, capillaries, and venules, play an important role in regulating blood flow, enabling nutrient and waste exchange, and facilitating immune surveillance. Due to their important roles in maintaining normal function in human tissues, a substantial effort has been devoted to developing tissue-engineered models to study endothelium-related biology and pathology. Various engineering strategies have been developed to recapitulate the structural, cellular, and molecular hallmarks of native human microvessels in vitro. In this review, recent progress in engineering approaches, key components, and culture platforms for tissue-engineered human microvessel models is summarized. Then, tissue-specific models, and the major applications of tissue-engineered microvessels in development, disease modeling, drug screening and delivery, and vascularization in tissue engineering, are reviewed. Finally, future research directions for the field are discussed.

Capturing physiological hemodynamic flow and mechanosensitive cell signaling in vessel-on-a-chip platforms

Recent advances in organ chip (or, "organ-on-a-chip") technologies and microphysiological systems (MPS) have enabled in vitro investigation of endothelial cell function in biomimetic three-dimensional environments under controlled fluid flow conditions. Many current organ chip models include a vascular compartment; however, the design and implementation of these vessel-on-a-chip components varies, with consequently varied impact on their ability to capture and reproduce hemodynamic flow and associated mechanosensitive signaling that regulates key characteristics of healthy, intact vasculature. In this review, we introduce organ chip and vessel-on-a-chip technology in the context of existing in vitro and in vivo vascular models. We then briefly discuss the importance of mechanosensitive signaling for vascular development and function, with focus on the major mechanosensitive signaling pathways involved. Next, we summarize recent advances in MPS and organ chips with an integrated vascular component, with an emphasis on comparing both the biomimicry and adaptability of the diverse approaches used for supporting and integrating intravascular flow. We review current data showing how intravascular flow and fluid shear stress impacts vessel development and function in MPS platforms and relate this to existing work in cell culture and animal models. Lastly, we highlight new insights obtained from MPS and organ chip models of mechanosensitive signaling in endothelial cells, and how this contributes to a deeper understanding of vessel growth and function in vivo. We expect this review will be of broad interest to vascular biologists, physiologists, and cardiovascular physicians as an introduction to organ chip platforms that can serve as viable model systems for investigating mechanosensitive signaling and other aspects of vascular physiology.

Sebaceous gland organoid engineering

Sebaceous glands (SGs), as holocrine-secreting appendages, lubricate the skin and play a central role in the skin barrier. Large full-thickness skin defects cause overall architecture disruption and SG loss. However, an effective strategy for SG regeneration is lacking. Organoids are 3D multicellular structures that replicate key anatomical and functional characteristics of in vivo tissues and exhibit great potential in regenerative medicine. Recently, considerable progress has been made in developing reliable procedures for SG organoids and existing SG organoids recapitulate the main morphological, structural and functional features of their in vivo counterparts. Engineering approaches empower researchers to manipulate cell behaviors, the surrounding environment and cell-environment crosstalk within the culture system as needed. These techniques can be applied to the SG organoid culture system to generate functionally more competent SG organoids. This review aims to provide an overview of recent advancements in SG organoid engineering. It highlights some potential strategies for SG organoid functionalization that are promising to forge a platform for engineering vascularized, innervated, immune-interactive and lipogenic SG organoids. We anticipate that this review will not only contribute to improving our understanding of SG biology and regeneration but also facilitate the transition of the SG organoid from laboratory research to a feasible clinical application.

Technique for Rapidly Forming Networks of Microvessel-Like Structures

Modeling organ-blood barriers through the inclusion of microvessel networks within in vitro tissue models could lead to more physiologically accurate results, especially since organ-blood barriers are crucial to the normal function, drug transport, and disease states of vascularized organs. Microvessel networks are difficult to form, since they push the practical limits of most fabrication methods, and it is difficult to coax vascular cells to self-assemble into structures larger than capillaries. Here, we present a method for rapidly forming networks of microvessel-like structures using sacrificial alginate structures. Specifically, we encapsulated endothelial cells within short alginate threads, and then embedded them in collagen gel. Following enzymatic degradation of the alginate, the collagen gel contained a network of hollow channels seeded with cells, all surrounding a perfusable central channel. This method uses a 3D-printed coaxial extruder and syringe pumps to generate short threads in a way that is repeatable and easily transferrable to other labs. The cell-laden, sacrificial alginate threads can be frozen after fabrication and thawed before embedding without significant loss of cell viability. The ability to freeze the threads enables future scale-up and ease of use. Within millifluidic devices that restrict access to media, the threads enhance cell survival under static conditions. These results indicate the potential for use of this method in a range of tissue engineering applications.

Cardiovascular human organ-on-a-chip platform for disease modeling, drug development, and personalized therapy

Cardiovascular organ-on-a-chip (OoC) devices are composed of engineered or native functional tissues that are cultured under controlled microenvironments inside microchips. These systems employ microfabrication and tissue engineering techniques to recapitulate human physiology. This review focuses on human OoC systems to model cardiovascular diseases, to perform drug screening, and to advance personalized medicine. We also address the challenges in the generation of organ chips that can revolutionize the large-scale application of these systems for drug development and personalized therapy.

Biofabrication of engineered blood vessels for biomedical applications

To successfully engineer large-sized tissues, establishing vascular structures is essential for providing oxygen, nutrients, growth factors and cells to prevent necrosis at the core of the tissue. The diameter scale of the biofabricated vasculatures should range from 100 to 1,000 µm to support the mm-size tissue while being controllably aligned and spaced within the diffusion limit of oxygen. In this review, insights regarding biofabrication considerations and techniques for engineered blood vessels will be presented. Initially, polymers of natural and synthetic origins can be selected, modified, and combined with each other to support maturation of vascular tissue while also being biocompatible. After they are shaped into scaffold structures by different fabrication techniques, surface properties such as physical topography, stiffness, and surface chemistry play a major role in the endothelialization process after transplantation. Furthermore, biological cues such as growth factors (GFs) and endothelial cells (ECs) can be incorporated into the fabricated structures. As variously reported, fabrication techniques, especially 3D printing by extrusion and 3D printing by photopolymerization, allow the construction of vessels at a high resolution with diameters in the desired range. Strategies to fabricate of stable tubular structures with defined channels will also be discussed. This paper provides an overview of the many advances in blood vessel engineering and combinations of different fabrication techniques up to the present time.

Technique for rapidly forming networks of microvessel-like structures

Modelling organ-blood barriers through the inclusion of microvessel networks within in vitro tissue models could lead to more physiologically accurate results, especially since organ-blood barriers are crucial to the normal function, drug transport, and disease states of vascularized organs. Microvessel networks are difficult to form, since they push the practical limit of most fabrication methods, and it is difficult to coax vascular cells to self-assemble into structures larger than capillaries. Here we present a method for rapidly forming networks of microvessel-like structures using sacrificial, alginate structures. Specifically, we encapsulated endothelial cells within short alginate threads, then embedded them in collagen gel. Following enzymatic degradation of the alginate, the collagen gel contained a network of hollow channels seeded with cells, all surrounding a perfusable central channel. This method uses a 3D printed coaxial extruder and syringe pumps to generate short threads in a way that is repeatable and easily transferrable to other labs. The cell-laden, sacrificial alginate threads can be frozen after fabrication and thawed before embedding without significant loss of cell viability. The ability to freeze the threads enables future scale up and ease of use. Within millifluidic devices that restrict access to media, the threads enhance cell survival under static conditions. These results indicate the potential for use of this method in a range of tissue engineering applications.

On-Chip Reconstitution of Uniformly Shear-Sensing 3D Matrix-embedded Multicellular Blood Microvessel

Preclinical human-relevant modeling of organ-specific vasculature offers a unique opportunity to recreate pathophysiological intercellular, tissue-tissue, and cell-matrix interactions for a broad range of applications. Here, we present a reliable, and simply reproducible process for constructing user-controlled long rounded extracellular matrix (ECM)-embedded vascular microlumens on-chip for endothelization and co-culture with stromal cells obtained from human lung. We demonstrate the critical impact of microchannel cross-sectional geometry and length on uniform distribution and magnitude of vascular wall shear stress, which is key when emulating in vivo-observed blood flow biomechanics in health and disease. In addition, we provide an optimization protocol for multicellular culture and functional validation of the system. Moreover, we show the ability to finely tune rheology of the three-dimensional natural matrix surrounding the vascular microchannel to match pathophysiological stiffness. In summary, we provide the scientific community with a matrix-embedded microvasculature on-chip populated with all-primary human-derived pulmonary endothelial cells and fibroblasts to recapitulate and interrogate lung parenchymal biology, physiological responses, vascular biomechanics, and disease biogenesis in vitro. Such a mix-and-match synthetic platform can be feasibly adapted to study blood vessels, matrix, and ECM-embedded cells in other organs and be cellularized with additional stromal cells.

Technology for the formation of engineered microvascular network models and their biomedical applications

Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine have made great progress in recent decades, as the fields of bioengineering, materials science, and stem cell biology have converged, allowing tissue engineers to replicate the structure and function of various levels of the vascular tree. Nonetheless, the lack of a fully functional vascular system to efficiently supply oxygen and nutrients has hindered the clinical application of bioengineered tissues for transplantation. To investigate vascular biology, drug transport, disease progression, and vascularization of engineered tissues for regenerative medicine, we have analyzed different approaches for designing microvascular networks to create models. This review discusses recent advances in the field of microvascular tissue engineering, explores potential future challenges, and offers methodological recommendations.

Microfiber-Patterned Versatile Perfusable Vascular Networks

Rapid construction of versatile perfusable vascular networks in vitro with cylindrical channels still remains challenging. Here, a microfiber-patterned method is developed to precisely fabricate versatile well-controlled perfusable vascular networks with cylindrical channels. This method uses tensile microfibers as an easy-removable template to rapidly generate cylindrical-channel chips with one-dimensional, two-dimensional, three-dimensional and multilayered structures, enabling the independent and precise control over the vascular geometry. These perfusable and cytocompatible chips have great potential to mimic vascular networks. The inner surfaces of a three-dimensional vascular network are lined with the human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) to imitate the endothelialization of a human blood vessel. The results show that HUVECs attach well on the inner surface of channels and form endothelial tubular lumens with great cell viability. The simple, rapid and low-cost technique for versatile perfusable vascular networks offers plenty of promising opportunities for microfluidics, tissue engineering, clinical medicine and drug development.

Facile Photopatterning of Perfusable Microchannels in Synthetic Hydrogels to Recreate Microphysiological Environments

The fabrication of perfusable hydrogels is crucial for recreating in vitro microphysiological environments. Existing strategies to fabricate complex microchannels in hydrogels involve sophisticated equipment/techniques. A cost-effective, facile, versatile, and ultra-fast methodology is reported to fabricate perfusable microchannels of complex shapes in photopolymerizable hydrogels without the need of specialized equipment or sophisticated protocols. The methodology utilizes one-step ultraviolet (UV) light-triggered cross-linking and a photomask printed on inexpensive transparent films to photopattern PEG-norbornene hydrogels. Complex and intricate patterns with high resolution, including perfusable microchannels, can be fabricated in <1 s. The perfusable hydrogel is integrated into a custom-made microfluidic device that permits connection to external pump systems, allowing continuous fluid perfusion into the microchannels. Under dynamic culture, human endothelial cells form a functional and confluent endothelial monolayer that remains viable for at least 7 days and respond to inflammatory stimuli. Finally, approach to photopattern norbornene hyaluronic acid hydrogels is adapted, highlighting the versatility of the technique. This study presents an innovative strategy to simplify and reduce the cost of biofabrication techniques for developing functional in vitro models using perfusable three-dimensional (3D) hydrogels. The approach offers a novel solution to overcome the complexities associated with existing methods, allowing engineering advanced in vitro microphysiological environments.

Capillary-Scale Hydrogel Microchannel Networks by Wire Templating

Microvascular networks are essential for the efficient transport of nutrients, waste products, and drugs throughout the body. Wire-templating is an accessible method for generating laboratory models of these blood vessel networks, but it has difficulty fabricating microchannels with diameters of ten microns and narrower, a requirement for modeling human capillaries. This study describes a suite of surface modification techniques to  selectively control the interactions amongst wires, hydrogels, and world-to-chip interfaces. This wire templating method enables the fabrication of perfusable hydrogel-based rounded cross-section capillary-scale networks whose diameters controllably narrow at bifurcations down to 6.1 ± 0.3 microns in diameter. Due to its low cost, accessibility, and compatibility with a wide range of common hydrogels of tunable stiffnesses such as collagen, this technique may increase the fidelity of experimental models of capillary networks for the study of human health and disease.

Preparation of a scaffold for a vascular network channel with spatially varying diameter based on sucrose

In the past few decades, although tissue engineering has made significant progress and achieved many accomplishments, there are still some key problems that remain unsolved. One of the urgent research challenges in this field is how to prepare large-scale tissue engineering scaffolds with spatially complex structures. In this work, a sacrificial template process using sucrose as the sacrificial material and a gelatin/microbial transglutaminase mixed solution as the bio-scaffold material is proposed to fabricate a bio-scaffold with multi-level branching and spatially complex vascular network channels that mimic the structure and function of the human vascular network. To validate the feasibility of the fabrication process and the rationality of the process parameters, the morphological characteristics, connectivity of vascular network channels, shaping accuracy, and mechanical properties of the bio-scaffold were tested and analyzed. The results showed that the bio-scaffold fabricated using this process had a complete morphology and excellent connectivity. The diameter of the sucrose sacrificial template showed a linear relationship with the feeding speed, and the average diameter error rate between the sucrose sacrificial template and the vascular network channels inside the bio-scaffold was less than 8%. The mechanical properties of the bio-scaffold met the requirements for large-scale tissue defect repair. To evaluate the effect of the bio-scaffold on cell activity, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were seeded into the vascular network channels of the bio-scaffold, and their attachment, growth, and proliferation on the surface of the vascular network channels were observed. To further assess the biocompatibility of the bio-scaffold, the bio-scaffold was implanted subcutaneously in the dorsal tissue of rats, and the tissue regeneration status was compared and analyzed through immunohistochemical analysis. The results showed that the vascular network channels within the bio-scaffold allowed uniform cell attachment, growth, with fewer dead cells and high cell viability. Moreover, clear cell attachment and growth were observed within the vascular network channels of the bio-scaffold after implantation in rats. These results indicate that the fabricated bio-scaffold meets the basic performance requirements for the repair and regeneration of large-scale tissue defects, providing a new approach for oxygen and nutrient transport in large-scale tissues and opening up new avenues for clinical applications.

Fluid flow to mimic organ function in 3D in vitro models

Many different strategies can be found in the literature to model organ physiology, tissue functionality, and disease in vitro; however, most of these models lack the physiological fluid dynamics present in vivo. Here, we highlight the importance of fluid flow for tissue homeostasis, specifically in vessels, other lumen structures, and interstitium, to point out the need of perfusion in current 3D in vitro models. Importantly, the advantages and limitations of the different current experimental fluid-flow setups are discussed. Finally, we shed light on current challenges and future focus of fluid flow models applied to the newest bioengineering state-of-the-art platforms, such as organoids and organ-on-a-chip, as the most sophisticated and physiological preclinical platforms.

Bioprinting Methods for Fabricating In Vitro Tubular Blood Vessel Models

Dysfunctional blood vessels are implicated in various diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, and cancer. Several studies have attempted to prevent and treat vascular diseases and understand interactions between these diseases and blood vessels across different organs and tissues. Initial studies were conducted using 2-dimensional (2D) in vitro and animal models. However, these models have difficulties in mimicking the 3D microenvironment in human, simulating kinetics related to cell activities, and replicating human pathophysiology; in addition, 3D models involve remarkably high costs. Thus, in vitro bioengineered models (BMs) have recently gained attention. BMs created through biofabrication based on tissue engineering and regenerative medicine are breakthrough models that can overcome limitations of 2D and animal models. They can also simulate the natural microenvironment in a patient- and target-specific manner. In this review, we will introduce 3D bioprinting methods for fabricating bioengineered blood vessel models, which can serve as the basis for treating and preventing various vascular diseases. Additionally, we will describe possible advancements from tubular to vascular models. Last, we will discuss specific applications, limitations, and future perspectives of fabricated BMs.

Three-Dimensional Cell Cultures: The Bridge between In Vitro and In Vivo Models

Although historically, the traditional bidimensional in vitro cell system has been widely used in research, providing much fundamental information regarding cellular functions and signaling pathways as well as nuclear activities, the simplicity of this system does not fully reflect the heterogeneity and complexity of the in vivo systems. From this arises the need to use animals for experimental research and in vivo testing. Nevertheless, animal use in experimentation presents various aspects of complexity, such as ethical issues, which led Russell and Burch in 1959 to formulate the 3R (Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement) principle, underlying the urgent need to introduce non-animal-based methods in research. Considering this, three-dimensional (3D) models emerged in the scientific community as a bridge between in vitro and in vivo models, allowing for the achievement of cell differentiation and complexity while avoiding the use of animals in experimental research. The purpose of this review is to provide a general overview of the most common methods to establish 3D cell culture and to discuss their promising applications. Three-dimensional cell cultures have been employed as models to study both organ physiology and diseases; moreover, they represent a valuable tool for studying many aspects of cancer. Finally, the possibility of using 3D models for drug screening and regenerative medicine paves the way for the development of new therapeutic opportunities for many diseases.

Organ-on-a-Chip for Drug Screening: A Bright Future for Sustainability? A Critical Review

Globalization has raised concerns about spreading diseases and emphasized the need for quick and efficient methods for drug screening. Established drug efficacy and toxicity approaches have proven obsolete, with a high failure rate in clinical trials. Organ-on-a-chip has emerged as an essential alternative to outdated techniques, precisely simulating important characteristics of organs and predicting drug pharmacokinetics more ethically and efficiently. Although promising, most organ-on-a-chip devices are still manufactured using principles and materials from the micromachining industry. The abusive use of plastic for traditional drug screening methods and device production should be considered when substituting technologies so that the compensation for the generation of plastic waste can be projected. This critical review outlines recent advances for organ-on-a-chip in the industry and estimates the possibility of scaling up its production. Moreover, it analyzes trends in organ-on-a-chip publications and provides suggestions for a more sustainable future for organ-on-a-chip research and production.

Vascularized organ bioprinting: From strategy to paradigm

Over the past two decades, bioprinting has become a popular research topic worldwide, as it is the most promising approach for manufacturing vascularized organ in vitro. However, transitioning bioprinting from simple tissue models to real biomedical applications is still a challenge due to the lack of interdisciplinary theoretical knowledge and perfect multitechnology integration. This review examines the goals of vasculature manufacturing and proposes the objectives in three stages. We then outline a bidirectional manufacturing strategy consisting of top-down reproduction (bioprinting) and bottom-up regeneration (cellular behaviour). We also provide an in-depth analysis of the views from the four aspects of design, ink, printing, and culture. Furthermore, we present the 'constructing-comprehension cycle' research paradigm in Strategic Priority Research Program and the 'math-model-based batch insights generator' research paradigm for the future, which have the potential to revolutionize the biomedical field.

Realizations of vascularized tissues: From in vitro platforms to in vivo grafts

Vascularization is essential for realizing thick and functional tissue constructs that can be utilized for in vitro study platforms and in vivo grafts. The vasculature enables the transport of nutrients, oxygen, and wastes and is also indispensable to organ functional units such as the nephron filtration unit, the blood-air barrier, and the blood-brain barrier. This review aims to discuss the latest progress of organ-like vascularized constructs with specific functionalities and realizations even though they are not yet ready to be used as organ substitutes. First, the human vascular system is briefly introduced and related design considerations for engineering vascularized tissues are discussed. Second, up-to-date creation technologies for vascularized tissues are summarized and classified into the engineering and cellular self-assembly approaches. Third, recent applications ranging from in vitro tissue models, including generic vessel models, tumor models, and different human organ models such as heart, kidneys, liver, lungs, and brain, to prevascularized in vivo grafts for implantation and anastomosis are discussed in detail. The specific design considerations for the aforementioned applications are summarized and future perspectives regarding future clinical applications and commercialization are provided.

Biofabricating the vascular tree in engineered bone tissue

The development of tissue engineering strategies for treatment of large bone defects has become increasingly relevant, given the growing demand for bone substitutes. Native bone is composed of a dense vascular network necessary for the regulation of bone development, regeneration and homeostasis. A major obstacle in fabricating living, clinically relevant-sized bone mimics (1-10 cm³) is the limited supply of nutrients, including oxygen to the core of the construct. Therefore, strategies to support vascularization are pivotal for the development of tissue engineered bone constructs. Creating a functional bone construct integrated with a vascular network, capable of delivering the necessary nutrients for optimal tissue development is imperative for translation into the clinics. The vascular system is composed of a complex network that runs throughout the body in a tree-like hierarchical branching fashion. A significant challenge for tissue engineering approaches lies in mimicking the intricate, multi-scale structures consisting of larger vessels (macro-vessels) which interconnect with multiple sprouting vessels (microvessels) in a closed network. The advent of biofabrication has enabled complex, out of plane channels to be generated and has laid the groundwork for the creation of multi-scale vasculature in recent years. This review highlights the key state-of-the-art achievements for the development of vascular networks of varying scales in the field of biofabrication with a particular focus for its application in developing a functional tissue engineered bone construct. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: There is a growing need for bone substitutes to overcome the limited supply of patient-derived bone. Bone tissue engineering aims to overcome this by combining stem cells with scaffolds to restore missing bone. The current bottleneck in upscaling is the lack of an integrated vascular network, required for the delivery of nutrients to cells. 3D bioprinting techniques has enabled the creation of complex hollow structures of varying dimensions that resemble native blood vessels. The convergence of multiple materials, cell types and fabrication approaches, opens the possibility of developing clinically-relevant sized vascularized bone constructs. This review provides an up-to-date insight of the technologies currently available for the generation of complex vascular networks, with a focus on their application in bone tissue engineering.

Progress of Microfluidic Hydrogel-Based Scaffolds and Organ-on-Chips for the Cartilage Tissue Engineering

Cartilage degeneration is among the fundamental reasons behind disability and pain across the globe. Numerous approaches have been employed to treat cartilage diseases. Nevertheless, none have shown acceptable outcomes in the long run. In this regard, the convergence of tissue engineering and microfabrication principles can allow developing more advanced microfluidic technologies, thus offering attractive alternatives to current treatments and traditional constructs used in tissue engineering applications. Herein, the current developments involving microfluidic hydrogel-based scaffolds, promising structures for cartilage regeneration, ranging from hydrogels with microfluidic channels to hydrogels prepared by the microfluidic devices, that enable therapeutic delivery of cells, drugs, and growth factors, as well as cartilage-related organ-on-chips are reviewed. Thereafter, cartilage anatomy and types of damages, and present treatment options are briefly overviewed. Various hydrogels are introduced, and the advantages of microfluidic hydrogel-based scaffolds over traditional hydrogels are thoroughly discussed. Furthermore, available technologies for fabricating microfluidic hydrogel-based scaffolds and microfluidic chips are presented. The preclinical and clinical applications of microfluidic hydrogel-based scaffolds in cartilage regeneration and the development of cartilage-related microfluidic chips over time are further explained. The current developments, recent key challenges, and attractive prospects that should be considered so as to develop microfluidic systems in cartilage repair are highlighted.

Advances in Organ-on-a-Chip Materials and Devices

The organ-on-a-chip (OoC) paves a way for biomedical applications ranging from preclinical to clinical translational precision. The current trends in the in vitro modeling is to reduce the complexity of human organ anatomy to the fundamental cellular microanatomy as an alternative of recreating the entire cell milieu that allows systematic analysis of medicinal absorption of compounds, metabolism, and mechanistic investigation. The OoC devices accurately represent human physiology in vitro; however, it is vital to choose the correct chip materials. The potential chip materials include inorganic, elastomeric, thermoplastic, natural, and hybrid materials. Despite the fact that polydimethylsiloxane is the most commonly utilized polymer for OoC and microphysiological systems, substitute materials have been continuously developed for its advanced applications. The evaluation of human physiological status can help to demonstrate using noninvasive OoC materials in real-time procedures. Therefore, this Review examines the materials used for fabricating OoC devices, the application-oriented pros and cons, possessions for device fabrication and biocompatibility, as well as their potential for downstream biochemical surface alteration and commercialization. The convergence of emerging approaches, such as advanced materials, artificial intelligence, machine learning, three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting, and genomics, have the potential to perform OoC technology at next generation. Thus, OoC technologies provide easy and precise methodologies in cost-effective clinical monitoring and treatment using standardized protocols, at even personalized levels. Because of the inherent utilization of the integrated materials, employing the OoC with biomedical approaches will be a promising methodology in the healthcare industry.

Printability of Double Network Alginate-Based Hydrogel for 3D Bio-Printed Complex Structures

Three-dimensional (3D) bio-printing has recently emerged as a crucial technology in tissue engineering, yet there are still challenges in selecting materials to obtain good print quality. Therefore, it is essential to study the influence of the chosen material (i.e., bio-ink) and the printing parameters on the final result. The “printability” of a bio-ink indicates its suitability for bio-printing. Hydrogels are a great choice because of their biocompatibility, but their printability is crucial for exploiting their properties and ensuring high printing accuracy. However, the printing settings are seldom addressed when printing hydrogels. In this context, this study explored the printability of double network (DN) hydrogels, from printing lines (1D structures) to lattices (2D structures) and 3D tubular structures, with a focus on printing accuracy. The DN hydrogel has two entangled cross-linked networks and a balanced mechanical performance combining high strength, toughness, and biocompatibility. The combination of poly (ethylene glycol)-diacrylate (PEDGA) and sodium alginate (SA) enables the qualities mentioned earlier to be met, as well as the use of UV to prevent filament collapse under gravity. Critical correlations between the printability and settings, such as velocity and viscosity of the ink, were identified. PEGDA/alginate-based double network hydrogels were explored and prepared, and printing conditions were improved to achieve 3D complex architectures, such as tubular structures. The DN solution ink was found to be unsuitable for extrudability; hence, glycerol was added to enhance the process. Different glycerol concentrations and flow rates were investigated. The solution containing 25% glycerol and a flow rate of 2 mm/s yielded the best printing accuracy. Thanks to these parameters, a line width of 1 mm and an angle printing inaccuracy of less than 1° were achieved, indicating good shape accuracy. Once the optimal parameters were identified, a tubular structure was achieved with a high printing accuracy. This study demonstrated a 3D printing hydrogel structure using a commercial 3D bio-printer (REGEMAT 3D BIO V1) by synchronizing all parameters, serving as a reference for future more complex 3D structures.

Engineered assistive materials for 3D bioprinting: support baths and sacrificial inks

Three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting is a promising technique for spatially patterning cells and materials into constructs that mimic native tissues and organs. However, a trade-off exists between printability and biological function, where weak materials are typically more suited for 3D cell culture but exhibit poor shape fidelity when printed in air. Recently, a new class of assistive materials has emerged to overcome this limitation and enable fabrication of more complex, biologically relevant geometries, even when using soft materials as bioinks. These materials include support baths, which bioinks are printed into, and sacrificial inks, which are printed themselves and then later removed. Support baths are commonly yield-stress materials that provide physical confinement during the printing process to improve resolution and shape fidelity. Sacrificial inks have primarily been used to create void spaces and pattern perfusable networks, but they can also be combined directly with the bioink to change its mechanical properties for improved printability or increased porosity. Here, we outline the advantages of using such assistive materials in 3D bioprinting, define their material property requirements, and offer case study examples of how these materials are used in practice. Finally, we discuss the remaining challenges and future opportunities in the development of assistive materials that will propel the bioprinting field forward toward creating full-scale, biomimetic tissues and organs.

Digital Light Processing Bioprinting Advances for Microtissue Models

Digital light processing (DLP) bioprinting has been widely introduced as a fast and robust biofabrication method in tissue engineering. The technique holds a great promise for creating tissue models because it can replicate the resolution and complexity of natural tissues and constructs. A DLP system projects 2D images onto layers of bioink using a digital photomask. The resolution of DLP bioprinting strongly depends on the characteristics of the projected light and the photo-cross-linking response of the bioink microenvironment. In this review, we present a summary of DLP fundamentals with a focus on bioink properties, photoinitiator selection, and light characteristics in resolution of bioprinted constructs. A simple guideline is provided for bioengineers interested in using DLP platforms and customizing technical specifications for its design. The literature review reveals the promising future of DLP bioprinting for disease modeling and biofabrication.

Study of sacrificial ink-assisted embedded printing for 3D perfusable channel creation for biomedical applications

For an engineered thick tissue construct to be alive and sustainable, it should be perfusable with respect to nutrients and oxygen. Embedded printing and then removing sacrificial inks in a cross-linkable yield-stress hydrogel matrix bath can serve as a valuable tool for fabricating perfusable tissue constructs. The objective of this study is to investigate the printability of sacrificial inks and the creation of perfusable channels in a cross-linkable yield-stress hydrogel matrix during embedded printing. Pluronic F-127, methylcellulose, and polyvinyl alcohol are selected as three representative sacrificial inks for their different physical and rheological properties. Their printability and removability performances have been evaluated during embedded printing in a gelatin microgel-based gelatin composite matrix bath, which is a cross-linkable yield-stress bath. The ink printability during embedded printing is different from that during printing in air due to the constraining effect of the matrix bath. Sacrificial inks with a shear-thinning property are capable of printing channels with a broad range of filaments by simply tuning the extrusion pressure. Bi-directional diffusion may happen between the sacrificial ink and matrix bath, which affects the sacrificial ink removal process and final channel diameter. As such, sacrificial inks with a low diffusion coefficient for gelatin precursor are desirable to minimize the diffusion from the gelatin precursor solution to minimize the post-printing channel diameter variation. For feasibility demonstration, a multi-channel perfusable alveolar mimic has been successfully designed, printed, and evaluated. The study results in the knowledge of the channel diameter controllability and sacrificial ink removability during embedded printing.

Bioprinted microvasculature: progressing from structure to function

Three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting seeks to unlock the rapid generation of complex tissue constructs, but long-standing challenges with efficientin vitromicrovascularization must be solved before this can become a reality. Microvasculature is particularly challenging to biofabricate due to the presence of a hollow lumen, a hierarchically branched network topology, and a complex signaling milieu. All of these characteristics are required for proper microvascular-and, thus, tissue-function. While several techniques have been developed to address distinct portions of this microvascularization challenge, no single approach is capable of simultaneously recreating all three microvascular characteristics. In this review, we present a three-part framework that proposes integration of existing techniques to generate mature microvascular constructs. First, extrusion-based 3D bioprinting creates a mesoscale foundation of hollow, endothelialized channels. Second, biochemical and biophysical cues induce endothelial sprouting to create a capillary-mimetic network. Third, the construct is conditioned to enhance network maturity. Across all three of these stages, we highlight the potential for extrusion-based bioprinting to become a central technique for engineering hierarchical microvasculature. We envision that the successful biofabrication of functionally engineered microvasculature will address a critical need in tissue engineering, and propel further advances in regenerative medicine andex vivohuman tissue modeling.

Organ-on-a-chip technology: a novel approach to investigate cardiovascular diseases

The development of organs-on-chip (OoC) has revolutionized in vitro cell-culture experiments by allowing a better mimicry of human physiology and pathophysiology that has consequently led researchers to gain more meaningful insights into disease mechanisms. Several models of hearts-on-chips and vessels-on-chips have been demonstrated to recapitulate fundamental aspects of the human cardiovascular system in the recent past. These 2D and 3D systems include synchronized beating cardiomyocytes in hearts-on-chips and vessels-on-chips with layer-based structures and the inclusion of physiological and pathological shear stress conditions. The opportunities to discover novel targets and to perform drug testing with chip-based platforms have substantially enhanced, thanks to the utilization of patient-derived cells and precise control of their microenvironment. These organ models will provide an important asset for future approaches to personalized cardiovascular medicine and improved patient care. However, certain technical and biological challenges remain, making the global utilization of OoCs to tackle unanswered questions in cardiovascular science still rather challenging. This review article aims to introduce and summarize published work on hearts- and vessels-on chips but also to provide an outlook and perspective on how these advanced in vitro systems can be used to tailor disease models with patient-specific characteristics.

Advanced Strategies for 3D Bioprinting of Tissue and Organ Analogs Using Alginate Hydrogel Bioinks

Alginate is a natural polysaccharide that typically originates from various species of algae. Due to its low cost, good biocompatibility, and rapid ionic gelation, the alginate hydrogel has become a good option of bioink source for 3D bioprinting. However, the lack of cell adhesive moieties, erratic biodegradability, and poor printability are the critical limitations of alginate hydrogel bioink. This review discusses the pivotal properties of alginate hydrogel as a bioink for 3D bioprinting technologies. Afterward, a variety of advanced material formulations and biofabrication strategies that have recently been developed to overcome the drawbacks of alginate hydrogel bioink will be focused on. In addition, the applications of these advanced solutions for 3D bioprinting of tissue/organ mimicries such as regenerative implants and in vitro tissue models using alginate-based bioink will be systematically summarized.

Recent advances on bioengineering approaches for fabrication of functional engineered cardiac pumps: A review

The field of cardiac tissue engineering has advanced over the past decades; however, most research progress has been limited to engineered cardiac tissues (ECTs) at the microscale with minimal geometrical complexities such as 3D strips and patches. Although microscale ECTs are advantageous for drug screening applications because of their high-throughput and standardization characteristics, they have limited translational applications in heart repair and the in vitro modeling of cardiac function and diseases. Recently, researchers have made various attempts to construct engineered cardiac pumps (ECPs) such as chambered ventricles, recapitulating the geometrical complexity of the native heart. The transition from microscale ECTs to ECPs at a translatable scale would greatly accelerate their translational applications; however, researchers are confronted with several major hurdles, including geometrical reconstruction, vascularization, and functional maturation. Therefore, the objective of this paper is to review the recent advances on bioengineering approaches for fabrication of functional engineered cardiac pumps. We first review the bioengineering approaches to fabricate ECPs, and then emphasize the unmatched potential of 3D bioprinting techniques. We highlight key advances in bioprinting strategies with high cell density as researchers have begun to realize the critical role that the cell density of non-proliferative cardiomyocytes plays in the cell-cell interaction and functional contracting performance. We summarize the current approaches to engineering vasculatures both at micro- and meso-scales, crucial for the survival of thick cardiac tissues and ECPs. We showcase a variety of strategies developed to enable the functional maturation of cardiac tissues, mimicking the in vivo environment during cardiac development. By highlighting state-of-the-art research, this review offers personal perspectives on future opportunities and trends that may bring us closer to the promise of functional ECPs.

The vascular niche in next generation microphysiological systems

In recent years, microphysiological system (MPS, also known as, organ-on-a-chip or tissue chip) platforms have emerged with great promise to improve the predictive capacity of preclinical modeling thereby reducing the high attrition rates when drugs move into trials. While their designs can vary quite significantly, in general MPS are bioengineered in vitro microenvironments that recapitulate key functional units of human organs, and that have broad applications in human physiology, pathophysiology, and clinical pharmacology. A critical next step in the evolution of MPS devices is the widespread incorporation of functional vasculature within tissues. The vasculature itself is a major organ that carries nutrients, immune cells, signaling molecules and therapeutics to all other organs. It also plays critical roles in inducing and maintaining tissue identity through expression of angiocrine factors, and in providing tissue-specific milieus (i.e., the vascular niche) that can support the survival and function of stem cells. Thus, organs are patterned, maintained and supported by the vasculature, which in turn receives signals that drive tissue specific gene expression. In this review, we will discuss published vascularized MPS platforms and present considerations for next-generation devices looking to incorporate this critical constituent. Finally, we will highlight the organ-patterning processes governed by the vasculature, and how the incorporation of a vascular niche within MPS platforms will establish a unique opportunity to study stem cell development.

Personalized medicine for reconstruction of critical-size bone defects - a translational approach with customizable vascularized bone tissue

Tissue engineering principles allow the generation of functional tissues for biomedical applications. Reconstruction of large-scale bone defects with tissue-engineered bone has still not entered the clinical routine. In the present study, a bone substitute in combination with mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) and endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) with or without growth factors BMP-2 and VEGF-A was prevascularized by an arteriovenous (AV) loop and transplanted into a critical-size tibia defect in the sheep model. With 3D imaging and immunohistochemistry, we could show that this approach is a feasible and simple alternative to the current clinical therapeutic option. This study serves as proof of concept for using large-scale transplantable, vascularized, and customizable bone, generated in a living organism for the reconstruction of load-bearing bone defects, individually tailored to the patient's needs. With this approach in personalized medicine for the reconstruction of critical-size bone defects, regeneration of parts of the human body will become possible in the near future.

Prevascularized Micro-/Nano-Sized Spheroid/Bead Aggregates for Vascular Tissue Engineering

Efficient strategies to promote microvascularization in vascular tissue engineering, a central priority in regenerative medicine, are still scarce; nano- and micro-sized aggregates and spheres or beads harboring primitive microvascular beds are promising methods in vascular tissue engineering. Capillaries are the smallest type and in numerous blood vessels, which are distributed densely in cardiovascular system. To mimic this microvascular network, specific cell components and proangiogenic factors are required. Herein, advanced biofabrication methods in microvascular engineering, including extrusion-based and droplet-based bioprinting, Kenzan, and biogripper approaches, are deliberated with emphasis on the newest works in prevascular nano- and micro-sized aggregates and microspheres/microbeads.

Perfusable System Using Porous Collagen Gel Scaffold Actively Provides Fresh Culture Media to a Cultured 3D Tissue

Culturing three-dimensional (3D) tissues with an appropriate microenvironment is a critical and fundamental technology in broad areas of cutting-edge bioengineering research. In addition, many technologies have engineered tissue functions. However, an effective system for transporting nutrients, waste, or oxygen to affect the functions of cell tissues has not been reported. In this study, we introduce a novel system that employs diffusion and convection to enhance transportation. To demonstrate the concept of the proposed system, three layers of normal human dermal fibroblast cell sheets are used as a model tissue, which is cultured on a general dish or porous collagen scaffold with perfusable channels for three days with and without the perfusion of culture media in the scaffold. The results show that the viability of the cell tissue was improved by the developed system. Furthermore, glucose consumption, lactate production, and oxygen transport to the tissues were increased, which might improve the viability of tissues. However, mechanical stress in the proposed system did not cause damage or unintentional functional changes in the cultured tissue. We believe that the introduced culturing system potentially suggests a novel standard for 3D cell cultures.

Bioinstructive Layer-by-Layer-Coated Customizable 3D Printed Perfusable Microchannels Embedded in Photocrosslinkable Hydrogels for Vascular Tissue Engineering

The development of complex and large 3D vascularized tissue constructs remains the major goal of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine (TERM). To date, several strategies have been proposed to build functional and perfusable vascular networks in 3D tissue-engineered constructs to ensure the long-term cell survival and the functionality of the assembled tissues after implantation. However, none of them have been entirely successful in attaining a fully functional vascular network. Herein, we report an alternative approach to bioengineer 3D vascularized constructs by embedding bioinstructive 3D multilayered microchannels, developed by combining 3D printing with the layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly technology, in photopolymerizable hydrogels. Alginate (ALG) was chosen as the ink to produce customizable 3D sacrificial microstructures owing to its biocompatibility and structural similarity to the extracellular matrices of native tissues. ALG structures were further LbL coated with bioinstructive chitosan and arginine–glycine–aspartic acid-coupled ALG multilayers, embedded in shear-thinning photocrosslinkable xanthan gum hydrogels and exposed to a calcium-chelating solution to form perfusable multilayered microchannels, mimicking the biological barriers, such as the basement membrane, in which the endothelial cells were seeded, denoting an enhanced cell adhesion. The 3D constructs hold great promise for engineering a wide array of large-scale 3D vascularized tissue constructs for modular TERM strategies.

The manufacturing procedure of 3D printed models for endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal pituitary surgery

BACKGROUND

Endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal pituitary surgery is usually difficult and risky. With limited sources of cadaveric skulls, traditional methods of using virtual images to study the surgery are difficult for neurosurgeons and students because the surgery requires spatial imagination and good understanding of the patient's conditions as well as practical experience. The three-dimensional (3D) printing technique has played an important role in clinical medicine due to its advantages of low cost, high-efficiency and customization.

OBJECTIVE

CT images are used as the source data of 3D printing. The data obtained directly from the CT machine has limited accuracy, which cannot be printed without processing. Some commercial platforms can help build an accurate model but the cost and customization are not satisfactory. In this situation, a tactile, precise and low-cost 3D model is highly desirable.

METHODS

Five kinds of computer software are used in the manufacturing of medical 3D models and the processing procedure is easy to understand and operate.

RESULTS

This study proposes a practical and cost-effective method to obtain the corrected digital model and produce the 3D printed skull with complete structures of nasal cavity, sellar region and different levels of pituitary tumors. The model is used for the endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal pituitary surgery preparation.

CONCLUSION

The 3D printed medical model can directly help neurosurgeons and medical students to practice their surgery skills on both general and special cases with customized structures and different levels of tumors.

Engineering Tissue Barrier Models on Hydrogel Microfluidic Platforms

Tissue barriers play a crucial role in human physiology by establishing tissue compartmentalization and regulating organ homeostasis. At the interface between the extracellular matrix (ECM) and flowing fluids, epithelial and endothelial barriers are responsible for solute and gas exchange. In the past decade, microfluidic technologies and organ-on-chip devices became popular as in vitro models able to recapitulate these biological barriers. However, in conventional microfluidic devices, cell barriers are primarily grown on hard polymeric membranes within polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) channels that do not mimic the cell-ECM interactions nor allow the incorporation of other cellular compartments such as stromal tissue or vascular structures. To develop models that accurately account for the different cellular and acellular compartments of tissue barriers, researchers have integrated hydrogels into microfluidic setups for tissue barrier-on-chips, either as cell substrates inside the chip, or as self-contained devices. These biomaterials provide the soft mechanical properties of tissue barriers and allow the embedding of stromal cells. Combining hydrogels with microfluidics technology provides unique opportunities to better recreate in vitro the tissue barrier models including the cellular components and the functionality of the in vivo tissues. Such platforms have the potential of greatly improving the predictive capacities of the in vitro systems in applications such as drug development, or disease modeling. Nevertheless, their development is not without challenges in their microfabrication. In this review, we will discuss the recent advances driving the fabrication of hydrogel microfluidic platforms and their applications in multiple tissue barrier models.

The Normal and Brain Tumor Vasculature: Morphological and Functional Characteristics and Therapeutic Targeting

Glioblastoma is among the most common tumor of the central nervous system in adults. Overall survival has not significantly improved over the last decade, even with optimizing standard therapeutic care including extent of resection and radio- and chemotherapy. In this article, we review features of the brain vasculature found in healthy cerebral tissue and in glioblastoma. Brain vessels are of various sizes and composed of several vascular cell types. Non-vascular cells such as astrocytes or microglia also interact with the vasculature and play important roles. We also discuss in vitro engineered artificial blood vessels which may represent useful models for better understanding the tumor-vessel interaction. Finally, we summarize results from clinical trials with anti-angiogenic therapy alone or in combination, and discuss the value of these approaches for targeting glioblastoma.

Microfluidic Biomaterials

Since their initial description in 2005, biomaterials that are patterned to contain microfluidic networks ("microfluidic biomaterials") have emerged as promising scaffolds for a variety of tissue engineering and related applications. This class of materials is characterized by the ability to be readily perfused. Transport and exchange of solutes within microfluidic biomaterials is governed by convection within channels and diffusion between channels and the biomaterial bulk. Numerous strategies have been developed for creating microfluidic biomaterials, including micromolding, photopatterning, and 3D printing. In turn, these materials have been used in many applications that benefit from the ability to perfuse a scaffold, including the engineering of blood and lymphatic microvessels, epithelial tubes, and cell-laden tissues. This article reviews the current state of the field and suggests new areas of exploration for this unique class of materials.

Composable microfluidic spinning platforms for facile production of biomimetic perfusable hydrogel microtubes

Microtissues with specific structures and integrated vessels play a key role in maintaining organ functions. To recapitulate the in vivo environment for tissue engineering and organ-on-a-chip purposes, it is essential to develop perfusable biomimetic microscaffolds. We developed facile all-aqueous microfluidic approaches for producing perfusable hydrogel microtubes with diverse biomimetic sizes and shapes. Here, we provide a detailed protocol describing the construction of the microtube spinning platforms, the assembly of microfluidic devices, and the fabrication and characterization of various perfusable hydrogel microtubes. The hydrogel microtubes can be continuously generated from microfluidic devices due to the crosslinking of alginate by calcium in the coaxial flows and collecting bath. Owing to the mild all-aqueous spinning process, cells can be loaded into the alginate prepolymer for microtube spinning, which enables the direct production of cell-laden hydrogel microtubes. By manipulating the fluid dynamics at the microscale, the composable microfluidic devices and platforms can be used for the facile generation of six types of biomimetic perfusable microtubes. The microfluidic platforms and devices can be set up within 3 h from commonly available and inexpensive materials. After 10-20 min required to adjust the platform and fluids, perfusable hydrogel microtubes can be generated continuously. We describe how to characterize the microtubes using scanning electron or confocal microscopy. As an example application, we describe how the microtubes can be used for the preparation of a vascular lumen and how to perform barrier permeability tests of the vascular lumen.

Building Scaffolds for Tubular Tissue Engineering

Hollow organs and tissue systems drive various functions in the body. Many of these hollow or tubular systems, such as vasculature, the intestines, and the trachea, are common targets for tissue engineering, given their relevance to numerous diseases and body functions. As the field of tissue engineering has developed, numerous benchtop models have been produced as platforms for basic science and drug testing. Production of tubular scaffolds for different tissue engineering applications possesses many commonalities, such as the necessity for producing an intact tubular opening and for formation of semi-permeable epithelia or endothelia. As such, the field has converged on a series of manufacturing techniques for producing these structures. In this review, we discuss some of the most common tissue engineered applications within the context of tubular tissues and the methods by which these structures can be produced. We provide an overview of the general structure and anatomy for these tissue systems along with a series of general design criteria for tubular tissue engineering. We categorize methods for manufacturing tubular scaffolds as follows: casting, electrospinning, rolling, 3D printing, and decellularization. We discuss state-of-the-art models within the context of vascular, intestinal, and tracheal tissue engineering. Finally, we conclude with a discussion of the future for these fields.

Surface Modification Techniques for Endothelial Cell Seeding in PDMS Microfluidic Devices

Microfluidic lab-on-a-chip cell culture techniques have been gaining popularity by offering the possibility of reducing the amount of samples and reagents and greater control over cellular microenvironment. Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is the commonly used polymer for microfluidic cell culture devices because of the cheap and easy fabrication techniques, non-toxicity, biocompatibility, high gas permeability, and optical transparency. However, the intrinsic hydrophobic nature of PDMS makes cell seeding challenging when applied on PDMS surface. The hydrophobicity of the PDMS surface also allows the non-specific absorption/adsorption of small molecules and biomolecules that might affect the cellular behaviour and functions. Hydrophilic modification of PDMS surface is indispensable for successful cell seeding. This review collates different techniques with their advantages and disadvantages that have been used to improve PDMS hydrophilicity to facilitate endothelial cells seeding in PDMS devices.