2012- 21st Annual NC State Undergraduate Research Symposium

Session Time : 4/10/12 10:30 AM - 4/10/12 11:45 AM

Content Area : Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering

Poster Appointment: NONE

Student Presenters :
Teal Russell Biochemistry

Mentors and/or Co-Authors :
Balaji Rao Chemical & Biomolecular Eng

Abstract Title : Endothelial cell micropatterning for engineering vascularized tissue constructs

Abstract :
Bioengineered tissues are often limited to thin-layer and avascular tissues because it is extremely challenging to create a functional vascular network that supplies nutrients and oxygen to the cells that comprise complex organs. Having developed a novel method to fabricate microfluidic channels with circular cross-sectional geometries that are mimetic of microvascular networks, our goal was to utilize these microfluidic channels to micropattern endothelial cells within a fibroblast-seeded scaffold, forming a vascularized co-culture system. Our first aim was to mold a polymer solution within a microfluidic channel to create a molded gel construct, serving as the structural template for forming a microvascular network. A gelatin solution was molded within a PDMS microchannel and subsequently cross-linked. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells were seeded on the gelatin surface and cultured to form the microvascular network. The second aim was to enclose the formed microvascular network within a cell-laden hydrogel, creating a vascularized tissue construct. The molded gelatin was fully enclosed within a collagen gel seeded with GFP+ rat dermal fibroblasts, successfully transferring the vascular-mimetic microchannel template to a biocompatible hydrogel system. These results help to establish a means for developing functional synthetic vascular networks towards the ultimate goal of engineering complex organ tissues.