Fabrication of multilayered vascular tissues using microfluidic agarose hydrogel platforms

Biomimetic Approaches in Scaffold-Based Blood Vessel Tissue Engineering

Cardiovascular diseases remain a leading cause of mortality globally, with atherosclerosis representing a significant pathological means, often leading to myocardial infarction. Coronary artery bypass surgery, a common procedure used to treat coronary artery disease, presents challenges due to the limited autologous tissue availability or the shortcomings of synthetic grafts. Consequently, there is a growing interest in tissue engineering approaches to develop vascular substitutes. This review offers an updated picture of the state of the art in vascular tissue engineering, emphasising the design of scaffolds and dynamic culture conditions following a biomimetic approach. By emulating native vessel properties and, in particular, by mimicking the three-layer structure of the vascular wall, tissue-engineered grafts can improve long-term patency and clinical outcomes. Furthermore, ongoing research focuses on enhancing biomimicry through innovative scaffold materials, surface functionalisation strategies, and the use of bioreactors mimicking the physiological microenvironment. Through a multidisciplinary lens, this review provides insight into the latest advancements and future directions of vascular tissue engineering, with particular reference to employing biomimicry to create systems capable of reproducing the structure-function relationships present in the arterial wall. Despite the existence of a gap between benchtop innovation and clinical translation, it appears that the biomimetic technologies developed to date demonstrate promising results in preventing vascular occlusion due to blood clotting under laboratory conditions and in preclinical studies. Therefore, a multifaceted biomimetic approach could represent a winning strategy to ensure the translation of vascular tissue engineering into clinical practice.

Extraction, Modification and Biomedical Application of Agarose Hydrogels: A Review

Numerous compounds present in the ocean are contributing to the development of the biomedical field. Agarose, a polysaccharide derived from marine red algae, plays a vital role in biomedical applications because of its reversible temperature-sensitive gelling behavior, excellent mechanical properties, and high biological activity. Natural agarose hydrogel has a single structural composition that prevents it from adapting to complex biological environments. Therefore, agarose can be developed into different forms through physical, biological, and chemical modifications, enabling it to perform optimally in different environments. Agarose biomaterials are being increasingly used for isolation, purification, drug delivery, and tissue engineering, but most are still far from clinical approval. This review classifies and discusses the preparation, modification, and biomedical applications of agarose, focusing on its applications in isolation and purification, wound dressings, drug delivery, tissue engineering, and 3D printing. In addition, it attempts to address the opportunities and challenges associated with the future development of agarose-based biomaterials in the biomedical field. It should help to rationalize the selection of the most suitable functionalized agarose hydrogels for specific applications in the biomedical industry.

Vessel-on-a-Chip: A Powerful Tool for Investigating Endothelial COVID-19 Fingerprints

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) causes various vascular and blood-related reactions, including exacerbated responses. The role of endothelial cells in this acute response is remarkable and may remain important beyond the acute phase. As we move into a post-COVID-19 era (where most people have been or will be infected by the SARS-CoV-2 virus), it is crucial to define the vascular consequences of COVID-19, including the long-term effects on the cardiovascular system. Research is needed to determine whether chronic endothelial dysfunction following COVID-19 could lead to an increased risk of cardiovascular and thrombotic events. Endothelial dysfunction could also serve as a diagnostic and therapeutic target for post-COVID-19. This review covers these topics and examines the potential of emerging vessel-on-a-chip technology to address these needs. Vessel-on-a-chip would allow for the study of COVID-19 pathophysiology in endothelial cells, including the analysis of SARS-CoV-2 interactions with endothelial function, leukocyte recruitment, and platelet activation. "Personalization" could be implemented in the models through induced pluripotent stem cells, patient-specific characteristics, or genetic modified cells. Adaptation for massive testing under standardized protocols is now possible, so the chips could be incorporated for the personalized follow-up of the disease or its sequalae (long COVID) and for the research of new drugs against COVID-19.

Large-scale perfused tissues via synthetic 3D soft microfluidics

The vascularization of engineered tissues and organoids has remained a major unresolved challenge in regenerative medicine. While multiple approaches have been developed to vascularize in vitro tissues, it has thus far not been possible to generate sufficiently dense networks of small-scale vessels to perfuse large de novo tissues. Here, we achieve the perfusion of multi-mm³ tissue constructs by generating networks of synthetic capillary-scale 3D vessels. Our 3D soft microfluidic strategy is uniquely enabled by a 3D-printable 2-photon-polymerizable hydrogel formulation, which allows for precise microvessel printing at scales below the diffusion limit of living tissues. We demonstrate that these large-scale engineered tissues are viable, proliferative and exhibit complex morphogenesis during long-term in-vitro culture, while avoiding hypoxia and necrosis. We show by scRNAseq and immunohistochemistry that neural differentiation is significantly accelerated in perfused neural constructs. Additionally, we illustrate the versatility of this platform by demonstrating long-term perfusion of developing neural and liver tissue. This fully synthetic vascularization platform opens the door to the generation of human tissue models at unprecedented scale and complexity.

Microfluidic Tissue Engineering and Bio-Actuation

Bio-hybrid technologies aim to replicate the unique capabilities of biological systems that could surpass advanced artificial technologies. Soft bio-hybrid robots consist of synthetic and living materials and have the potential to self-assemble, regenerate, work autonomously, and interact safely with other species and the environment. Cells require a sufficient exchange of nutrients and gases, which is guaranteed by convection and diffusive transport through liquid media. The functional development and long-term survival of biological tissues in vitro can be improved by dynamic flow culture, but only microfluidic flow control can develop tissue with fine structuring and regulation at the microscale. Full control of tissue growth at the microscale will eventually lead to functional macroscale constructs, which are needed as the biological component of soft bio-hybrid technologies. This review summarizes recent progress in microfluidic techniques to engineer biological tissues, focusing on the use of muscle cells for robotic bio-actuation. Moreover, the instances in which bio-actuation technologies greatly benefit from fusion with microfluidics are highlighted, which include: the microfabrication of matrices, biomimicry of cell microenvironments, tissue maturation, perfusion, and vascularization.

Vascular Tissue Engineering: Challenges and Requirements for an Ideal Large Scale Blood Vessel

Since the emergence of regenerative medicine and tissue engineering more than half a century ago, one obstacle has persisted: the in vitro creation of large-scale vascular tissue (>1 cm³) to meet the clinical needs of viable tissue grafts but also for biological research applications. Considerable advancements in biofabrication have been made since Weinberg and Bell, in 1986, created the first blood vessel from collagen, endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells and fibroblasts. The synergistic combination of advances in fabrication methods, availability of cell source, biomaterials formulation and vascular tissue development, promises new strategies for the creation of autologous blood vessels, recapitulating biological functions, structural functions, but also the mechanical functions of a native blood vessel. In this review, the main technological advancements in bio-fabrication are discussed with a particular highlights on 3D bioprinting technologies. The choice of the main biomaterials and cell sources, the use of dynamic maturation systems such as bioreactors and the associated clinical trials will be detailed. The remaining challenges in this complex engineering field will finally be discussed.

Physiological and Disease Models of Respiratory System Based on Organ-on-a-Chip Technology

The pathogenesis of respiratory diseases is complex, and its occurrence and development also involve a series of pathological processes. The present research methods are have difficulty simulating the natural developing state of the disease in the body, and the results cannot reflect the real growth state and function in vivo. The development of microfluidic chip technology provides a technical platform for better research on respiratory diseases. The size of its microchannel can be similar to the space for cell growth in vivo. In addition, organ-on-a-chip can achieve long-term co-cultivation of multiple cells and produce precisely controllable fluid shear force, periodically changing mechanical force, and perfusate with varying solute concentration gradient. To sum up, the chip can be used to analyze the specific pathophysiological changes of organs meticulously, and it is widely used in scientific research on respiratory diseases. The focus of this review is to describe and discuss current studies of artificial respiratory systems based on organ-on-a-chip technology and to summarize their applications in the real world.

Conventional and emerging strategies for the fabrication and functionalization of PDMS-based microfluidic devices

Microfluidics is an emerging and multidisciplinary field that is of great interest to manufacturers in medicine, biotechnology, and chemistry, as it provides unique tools for the development of point-of-care diagnostics, organs-on-chip systems, and biosensors. Polymeric microfluidics, unlike glass and silicon, offer several advantages such as low-cost mass manufacturing and a wide range of beneficial material properties, which make them the material of choice for commercial applications and high-throughput systems. Among polymers used for the fabrication of microfluidic devices, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) still remains the most widely used material in academia due to its advantageous properties, such as excellent transparency and biocompatibility. However, commercialization of PDMS has been a challenge mostly due to the high cost of the current fabrication strategies. Moreover, specific surface modification and functionalization steps are required to tailor the surface chemistry of PDMS channels (e.g. biomolecule immobilization, surface hydrophobicity and antifouling properties) with respect to the desired application. While significant research has been reported in the field of PDMS microfluidics, functionalization of PDMS surfaces remains a critical step in the fabrication process that is difficult to navigate. This review first offers a thorough illustration of existing fabrication methods for PDMS-based microfluidic devices, providing several recent advancements in this field with the aim of reducing the cost and time for mass production of these devices. Next, various conventional and emerging approaches for engineering the surface chemistry of PDMS are discussed in detail. We provide a wide range of functionalization techniques rendering PDMS microchannels highly biocompatible for physical or covalent immobilization of various biological entities while preventing non-specific interactions.

Recent Advancements in Regenerative Approaches for Thymus Rejuvenation

The thymus plays a key role in adaptive immunity by generating a diverse population of T cells that defend the body against pathogens. Various factors from disease and toxic insults contribute to the degeneration of the thymus resulting in a fewer output of T cells. Consequently, the body is prone to a wide host of diseases and infections. In this review, first, the relevance of the thymus is discussed, followed by thymic embryological organogenesis and anatomy as well as the development and functionality of T cells. Attempts to regenerate the thymus include in vitro methods, such as forming thymic organoids aided by biofabrication techniques that are transplantable. Ex vivo methods that have shown promise in enhancing thymic regeneration are also discussed. Current regenerative technologies have not yet matched the complexity and functionality of the thymus. Therefore, emerging techniques that have shown promise and the challenges that lie ahead are explored.

Building a stem cell-based primate uterus

The uterus is the organ for embryo implantation and fetal development. Most current models of the uterus are centred around capturing its function during later stages of pregnancy to increase the survival in pre-term births. However, in vitro models focusing on the uterine tissue itself would allow modelling of pathologies including endometriosis and uterine cancers, and open new avenues to investigate embryo implantation and human development. Motivated by these key questions, we discuss how stem cell-based uteri may be engineered from constituent cell parts, either as advanced self-organising cultures, or by controlled assembly through microfluidic and print-based technologies.

A Decade of Organs-on-a-Chip Emulating Human Physiology at the Microscale: A Critical Status Report on Progress in Toxicology and Pharmacology

Organ-on-a-chip technology has the potential to accelerate pharmaceutical drug development, improve the clinical translation of basic research, and provide personalized intervention strategies. In the last decade, big pharma has engaged in many academic research cooperations to develop organ-on-a-chip systems for future drug discoveries. Although most organ-on-a-chip systems present proof-of-concept studies, miniaturized organ systems still need to demonstrate translational relevance and predictive power in clinical and pharmaceutical settings. This review explores whether microfluidic technology succeeded in paving the way for developing physiologically relevant human in vitro models for pharmacology and toxicology in biomedical research within the last decade. Individual organ-on-a-chip systems are discussed, focusing on relevant applications and highlighting their ability to tackle current challenges in pharmacological research.

Alginate Microencapsulation for Three-Dimensional In Vitro Cell Culture

Advances in microscale 3D cell culture systems have helped to elucidate cellular physiology, understand mechanisms of stem cell differentiation, produce pathophysiological models, and reveal important cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions. An important consideration for such studies is the choice of material for encapsulating cells and associated extracellular matrix (ECM). This Review focuses on the use of alginate hydrogels, which are versatile owing to their simple gelation process following an ionic cross-linking mechanism in situ, with no need for procedures that can be potentially toxic to cells, such as heating, the use of solvents, and UV exposure. This Review aims to give some perspectives, particularly to researchers who typically work more with poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS), on the use of alginate as an alternative material to construct microphysiological cell culture systems. More specifically, this Review describes how physicochemical characteristics of alginate hydrogels can be tuned with regards to their biocompatibility, porosity, mechanical strength, ligand presentation, and biodegradability. A number of cell culture applications are also described, and these are subcategorized according to whether the alginate material is used to homogeneously embed cells, to micropattern multiple cellular microenvironments, or to provide an outer shell that creates a space in the core for cells and other ECM components. The Review ends with perspectives on future challenges and opportunities for 3D cell culture applications.

ECM-based microchannel for culturing in vitro vascular tissues with simultaneous perfusion and stretch

We present an extracellular matrix (ECM)-based stretchable microfluidic system for culturing in vitro three-dimensional (3D) vascular tissues, which mimics in vivo blood vessels. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) can be cultured under perfusion and stretch simultaneously with real-time imaging by our proposed system. Our ECM (transglutaminase (TG) cross-linked gelatin)-based microchannel was fabricated by dissolving water-soluble sacrificial polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) molds printed with a 3D printer. Flows in the microchannel were analyzed under perfusion and stretch. We demonstrated simultaneous perfusion and stretch of TG gelatin-based microchannels culturing HUVECs. We suggest that our TG gelatin-based stretchable microfluidic system proves to be a useful tool for understanding the mechanisms of vascular tissue formation and mechanotransduction.

Grafting of 3D Bioprinting to In Vitro Drug Screening: A Review

The inadequacy of conventional cell-monolayer planar cultures and animal experiments in predicting the toxicity and clinical efficacy of drug candidates has led to an imminent need for in vitro methods with the ability to better represent in vivo conditions and facilitate the systematic investigation of drug candidates. Recent advances in 3D bioprinting have prompted the precise manipulation of cells and biomaterials, rendering it a promising technology for the construction of in vitro tissue/organ models and drug screening devices. This review presents state-of-the-art in vitro methods used for preclinical drug screening and discusses the limitations of these methods. In particular, the significance of constructing 3D in vitro tissue/organ models and microfluidic analysis devices for drug screening is emphasized, and a focus is placed on the grafting process of 3D bioprinting technology to the construction of such models and devices. The in vitro methods for drug screening are generalized into three types: mini-tissue, organ-on-a-chip, and tissue/organ construct. The revolutionary process of the in vitro methods is demonstrated in detail, and relevant studies are listed as examples. Specifically, the tumor model is adopted as a precedent to illustrate the possible grafting of 3D bioprinting to antitumor drug screening.

Biofabrication Strategies and Engineered In Vitro Systems for Vascular Mechanobiology

The vascular system is integral for maintaining organ-specific functions and homeostasis. Dysregulation in vascular architecture and function can lead to various chronic or acute disorders. Investigation of the role of the vascular system in health and disease has been accelerated through the development of tissue-engineered constructs and microphysiological on-chip platforms. These in vitro systems permit studies of biochemical regulation of vascular networks and parenchymal tissue and provide mechanistic insights into the biophysical and hemodynamic forces acting in organ-specific niches. Detailed understanding of these forces and the mechanotransductory pathways involved is necessary to develop preventative and therapeutic strategies targeting the vascular system. This review describes vascular structure and function, the role of hemodynamic forces in maintaining vascular homeostasis, and measurement approaches for cell and tissue level mechanical properties influencing vascular phenomena. State-of-the-art techniques for fabricating in vitro microvascular systems, with varying degrees of biological and engineering complexity, are summarized. Finally, the role of vascular mechanobiology in organ-specific niches and pathophysiological states, and efforts to recapitulate these events using in vitro microphysiological systems, are explored. It is hoped that this review will help readers appreciate the important, but understudied, role of vascular-parenchymal mechanotransduction in health and disease toward developing mechanotherapeutics for treatment strategies.

Engineering Organoid Vascularization

The development of increasingly biomimetic human tissue analogs has been a long-standing goal in two important biomedical applications: drug discovery and regenerative medicine. In seeking to understand the safety and effectiveness of newly developed pharmacological therapies and replacement tissues for severely injured non-regenerating tissues and organs, there remains a tremendous unmet need in generating tissues with both functional complexity and scale. Over the last decade, the advent of organoids has demonstrated that cells have the ability to reorganize into complex tissue-specific structures given minimal inductive factors. However, a major limitation in achieving truly in vivo-like functionality has been the lack of structured organization and reasonable tissue size. In vivo, developing tissues are interpenetrated by and interact with a complex network of vasculature which allows not only oxygen, nutrient and waste exchange, but also provide for inductive biochemical exchange and a structural template for growth. Conversely, in vitro, this aspect of organoid development has remained largely missing, suggesting that these may be the critical cues required for large-scale and more reproducible tissue organization. Here, we review recent technical progress in generating in vitro vasculature, and seek to provide a framework for understanding how such technologies, together with theoretical and developmentally inspired insights, can be harnessed to enhance next generation organoid development.

Formation of pressurizable hydrogel-based vascular tissue models by selective gelation in composite PDMS channels

Vascular tissue models created in vitro are of great utility in the biomedical research field, but versatile, facile strategies are still under development. In this study, we proposed a new approach to prepare vascular tissue models in PDMS-based composite channel structures embedded with barium salt powders. When a cell-containing hydrogel precursor solution was continuously pumped in the channel, the precursor solution in the vicinity of the channel wall was selectively gelled because of the barium ions as the gelation agent supplied to the flow. Based on this concept, we were able to prepare vascular tissue models, with diameters of 1–2 mm and with tunable morphologies, composed of smooth muscle cells in the hydrogel matrix and endothelial cells on the lumen. Perfusion culture was successfully performed under a pressurized condition of ∼120 mmHg. The presented platform is potentially useful for creating vascular tissue models that reproduce the physical and morphological characteristics similar to those of vascular tissues in vivo.

A new approach for the preparation of vascular tissue models in PDMS-based composite channel structures embedded with barium salt powders.

Microfluidic modelling of the tumor microenvironment for anti-cancer drug development

Cancer is the leading cause of death worldwide. The complex and disorganized tumor microenvironment makes it very difficult to treat this disease. The most common in vitro drug screening method now is based on 2D culture models which poorly represent actual tumors. Therefore, many 3D tumor models which are more physiologically relevant have been developed to conduct in vitro drug screening and alleviate this situation. Among all these models, the microfluidic tumor model has the unique advantage of recapitulating the tumor microenvironment in a comparatively easier and representative fashion. While there are many review papers available on the related topic of microfluidic tumor models, in this review we aim to focus more on the possibility of generating "clinically actionable information" from these microfluidic systems, besides scientific insight. Our topics cover the tumor microenvironment, conventional 2D and 3D cultures, animal models, and microfluidic tumor models, emphasizing their link to anti-cancer drug discovery and personalized medicine.

Microfluidic-based vascularized microphysiological systems

Microphysiological systems have emerged in the last decade to provide an alternative to in vivo models in basic science and pharmaceutical research. In the field of vascular biology, in particular, there has been a lack of a suitable in vitro model exhibiting a three-dimensional structure and the physiological function of vasculature integrated with organ-on-a-chip models. The rapid development of organ-on-a-chip technology is well positioned to fulfill unmet needs. Recently, functional integration of vasculature with diverse microphysiological systems has been increasing. This recent trend corresponds to emerging research interest in how the vascular system contributes to various physiological and pathological conditions. This innovative platform has undergone significant development, but adoption of this technology by end-users and researchers in biology is still a work in progress. Therefore, it is critical to focus on simplification and standardization to promote the distribution and acceptance of this technology by the end-users. In this review, we will introduce the latest developments in vascularized microphysiological systems and summarize their outlook in basic research and drug screening applications.

Agarose-based biomaterials for tissue engineering

Agarose is a natural polysaccharide polymer having unique characteristics that give reason to consider it for tissue engineering applications. Special characteristics of agarose such as its excellent biocompatibility, thermo-reversible gelation behavior and physiochemical features support its use as a biomaterial for cell growth and/or controlled/localized drug delivery. The resemblance of this natural carbohydrate polymer to the extracellular matrix results in attractive features that bring about a strong interest in its usage in the field. The scope of this review is to summarize the extensive researches addressing agarose-based biomaterials in order to provide an in-depth understanding of its tissue engineering-related applications.

Engineering Cardiovascular Implant Surfaces to Create a Vascular Endothelial Growth Microenvironment

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is generally accepted as the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, and an increasing number of patients suffer from atherosclerosis and thrombosis annually. To treat these disorders and prolong the sufferers' life, several cardiovascular implants have been developed and applied clinically. Nevertheless, thrombosis and hyperplasia at the site of cardiovascular implants are recognized as long-term problems in the practice of interventional cardiology. Here, we start this review from the clinical requirement of the implants, such as anti-hyperplasia, anti-thrombosis, and pro-endothelialization, wherein particularly focus on the natural factors which influence functional endothelialization in situ, including the healthy smooth muscle cells (SMCs) environment, blood flow shear stress (BFSS), and the extracellular matrix (ECM) microenvironment. Then, the currently available strategies on surface modification of cardiovascular biomaterials to create vascular endothelial growth microenvironment are introduced as the main topic, e.g., BFSS effect simulation by surface micro-patterning, ECM rational construction and SMCs phenotype maintain. Finally, the prospects for extending use of the in situ construction of endothelial cells growth microenvironment are discussed and summarized in designing the next generation of vascular implants.

Biomaterials Meet Microfluidics: From Synthesis Technologies to Biological Applications

Microfluidics is characterized by laminar flow at micro-scale dimension, high surface to volume ratio, and markedly improved heat/mass transfer. In addition, together with advantages of large-scale integration and flexible manipulation, microfluidic technology has been rapidly developed as one of the most important platforms in the field of functional biomaterial synthesis. Compared to biomaterials assisted by conventional strategies, functional biomaterials synthesized by microfluidics are with superior properties and performances, due to their controllable morphology and composition, which have shown great advantages and potential in the field of biomedicine, biosensing, and tissue engineering. Take the significance of microfluidic engineered biomaterials into consideration; this review highlights the microfluidic synthesis technologies and biomedical applications of materials. We divide microfluidic based biomaterials into four kinds. According to the material dimensionality, it includes: 0D (particulate materials), 1D (fibrous materials), 2D (sheet materials), and 3D (construct forms of materials). In particular, micro/nano-particles and micro/nano-fibers are introduced respectively. This classification standard could include all of the microfluidic biomaterials, and we envision introducing a comprehensive and overall evaluation and presentation of microfluidic based biomaterials and their applications.

Development of hydrogels for regenerative engineering

The aim of regenerative engineering is to restore complex tissues and biological systems through convergence in the fields of advanced biomaterials, stem cell science, and developmental biology. Hydrogels are one of the most attractive biomaterials for regenerative engineering, since they can be engineered into tissue mimetic 3D scaffolds to support cell growth due to their similarity to native extracellular matrix. Advanced nano- and micro-technologies have dramatically increased the ability to control properties and functionalities of hydrogel materials by facilitating biomimetic fabrication of more sophisticated compositions and architectures, thus extending our understanding of cell-matrix interactions at the nanoscale. With this perspective, this review discusses the most commonly used hydrogel materials and their fabrication strategies for regenerative engineering. We highlight the physical, chemical, and functional modulation of hydrogels to design and engineer biomimetic tissues based on recent achievements in nano- and micro-technologies. In addition, current hydrogel-based regenerative engineering strategies for treating multiple tissues, such as musculoskeletal, nervous and cardiac tissue, are also covered in this review. The interaction of multiple disciplines including materials science, cell biology, and chemistry, will further play an important role in the design of functional hydrogels for the regeneration of complex tissues.