A 3D biomimetic model of lymphatics reveals cell-cell junction tightening and lymphedema via a cytokine-induced ROCK2/JAM-A complex

The Edifice of Vasculature-On-Chips: A Focused Review on the Key Elements and Assembly of Angiogenesis Models

The conception of vascularized organ-on-a-chip models provides researchers with the ability to supply controlled biological and physical cues that simulate the in vivo dynamic microphysiological environment of native blood vessels. The intention of this niche research area is to improve our understanding of the role of the vasculature in health or disease progression in vitro by allowing researchers to monitor angiogenic responses and cell-cell or cell-matrix interactions in real time. This review offers a comprehensive overview of the essential elements, including cells, biomaterials, microenvironmental factors, microfluidic chip design, and standard validation procedures that currently govern angiogenesis-on-a-chip assemblies. In addition, we emphasize the importance of incorporating a microvasculature component into organ-on-chip devices in critical biomedical research areas, such as tissue engineering, drug discovery, and disease modeling. Ultimately, advances in this area of research could provide innovative solutions and a personalized approach to ongoing medical challenges.

Mimicking blood and lymphatic vasculatures using microfluidic systems

The role of the circulatory system, containing the blood and lymphatic vasculatures, within the body, has become increasingly focused on by researchers as dysfunction of either of the systems has been linked to serious complications and disease. Currently, in vivo models are unable to provide the sufficient monitoring and level of manipulation needed to characterize the fluidic dynamics of the microcirculation in blood and lymphatic vessels; thus in vitro models have been pursued as an alternative model. Microfluidic devices have the required properties to provide a physiologically relevant circulatory system model for research as well as the experimental tools to conduct more advanced research analyses of microcirculation flow. In this review paper, the physiological behavior of fluid flow and electrical communication within the endothelial cells of the systems are detailed and discussed to highlight their complexities. Cell co-culturing methods and other relevant organ-on-a-chip devices will be evaluated to demonstrate the feasibility and relevance of the in vitro microfluidic model. Microfluidic systems will be determined as a noteworthy model that can display physiologically relevant flow of the cardiovascular and lymphatic systems, which will enable researchers to investigate the systems' prevalence in diseases and identify potential therapeutics.