Open chip for 3D-3D cell culture. Credit: Scientific reports (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-74493-3
Researchers from the Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology (MET) at the University of Tampere have successfully created a cell culture platform that allows two cultured vascular networks to interconnect. The blood vessels in these networks are equivalent to human capillaries in size and structure, making it easier to study human capillary networks in the laboratory.
The research paper was published in Scientific reports on October 2, 2024.
“The generation of two distinct, interconnected 3D microvascular networks marks a significant advancement in our research. We can now incorporate cells found in different tissue types around these interconnected vascular networks, such as hepatocytes from liver tissue and adipocytes from tissue adipose, to study cellular interactions in vascularized tissues”, explains Alma Yrjänäinen. She is working on her doctorate. within the Center of Excellence for Body-on-Chip Research at the University of Tampere.
Organ-on-a-chip (OoC) technology combines microfabrication techniques and cell biology to facilitate the study of tissue functions. OoCs replicate the complex microenvironment of human tissues by incorporating gravity-driven or pump-assisted fluid flow through miniaturized tissues, mimicking the natural forces of blood flow. Neurons and blood vessels can also be integrated into these models.
OoCs can significantly reduce drug discovery costs, with experts estimating a potential reduction of up to 25%. National health systems could also benefit from the adoption of OoCs. However, further progress is needed before these visions become reality.
“Imagine that in the future, a single blood sample could unlock a personalized treatment for your hypertension. Stem cells derived from your blood could be used to create a vascular network in the laboratory. This network could then be used to test which Blood pressure medications available on the market would be best suited to your cells, helping to avoid medications that would be ineffective or even harmful to you,” says Yrjänäinen.
More information:
Alma Yrjänäinen et al, Open and barrier-free microfluidic chip to generate two distinct and interconnected 3D microvascular networks, Scientific reports (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-74493-3
Provided by the University of Tampere
Quote: Researchers succeed in creating two interconnected vascular networks (October 9, 2024) retrieved October 9, 2024 from
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