High-Throughput Bioprinting Method for Modeling Vascular Permeability in Standard Six-well Plates with Size and Pattern Flexibility

Summary

We present a protocol for high-throughput production of vascular channels with flexible sizes and desired patterns on a standard six-well plate using 3D bioprinting technology, referred to as vessels-on-a-plate (VOP). This platform has the potential to advance the development of therapeutics for the disorders associated with compromised endothelium.

Abstract

Vascular permeability is a key factor in developing therapies for disorders associated with compromised endothelium, such as endothelial dysfunction in coronary arteries and impaired function of the blood-brain barrier. Existing fabrication techniques do not adequately replicate the geometrical variation in vascular networks in the human body, which substantially influences disease progression; moreover, these techniques often involve multi-step fabrication procedures that hinder the high-throughput production necessary for pharmacological testing. This paper presents a bioprinting protocol for creating multiple vascular tissues with desired patterns and sizes directly on standard six-well plates, overcoming existing resolution and productivity challenges in bioprinting technology. A simplified fabrication approach was established to construct six hollow, perfusable channels within a hydrogel, which were subsequently lined with human umbilical vein endothelial cells to form a functional and mature endothelium. The computer-controlled nature of 3D bioprinting ensures high reproducibility and requires fewer manual fabrication steps than traditional methods. This highlights VOP's potential as an efficient high-throughput platform for modeling vascular permeability and advancing drug discovery.

Introduction

The vascular network throughout the human body functions as a crucial transport barrier by dynamically regulating the exchange of molecules and cells between the blood and surrounding tissues. This regulation is essential for preventing tissue edema and enabling selective nutrient and cell exchange, thus supporting tissue metabolism and homeostasis¹. Altered endothelial permeability, a factor in many health conditions, affects both disease severity and treatment efficacy². Vascular endothelium acts as a selective barrier, facilitating the transfer between vessels, tissues, and organs. This regulation involves several mec....

Protocol

1. Generation of G-code for the bioprinter

1. To generate and visualize the printing path, visit an online G-code simulation tool (e.g., NCviewer).
2. Click the New File icon on the interface to create a new G-code file.
3. Generate a printing path by manually writing the G-code commands for the sacrificial channel and the silicon chamber. Use the dimensions of a standard six-well plate as a reference for creating the geometry.
   NOTE: G-code used here is base.......

Discussion

Taking advantage of the precision, automation, and computer-controlled nature of 3D bioprinting technology, we established a streamlined method for fabricating vascular channels in standard six-well plates, which were chosen for their compatibility with commercial microplate readers and microscope imaging setups. The plate's design can accommodate multi-size channels and a sufficient volume of media for the growth of larger channels while decreasing the necessary frequency of media changes. Future adaptations of this.......

Materials

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
10 mL Serological Pipette	SPL	SPL 91010
10 mL syringe	Shinchang Medical
15 mL conical tube	SPL	50015
3D Bioprinter	T&R Biofab	3DX-Printer
6-well plate	SPL	37206
Biological Safety Cabinets	CHC LAB	PCHC-777A2-04,
Brightfield Inverted Microscopes	Leica	DMi1
Cell Counting Kit (CCK8)	GlpBio	GK10001
Cell Counting Kit (CCK8)	GlpBio	GK10001
Cell Culture Flask 75T	SPL	70075
Corning Matrigel Growth Factor Reduced (GFR) Basement Membrane Matrix, LDEV-free, 10 mL	Corning	354230
Distilled water
DMEM/F12	Gibco	11320033
DMSO, Cell Culture Grade	Sigma aldrich	D2438
Dow-Corning, PDMS-Sylgard 184a Kit	DOW	DC-184
DOWSIL SE 1700 Clear W/C 1.1 KG Kit	DOW	2924404
D-PBS - 1x	Welgene	LB001-01
Endothelial Cell Growth Medium MV 2 (Ready to use)	Promocell	C-22022
Eppendorf Micro pipette(1000,200,100,20,10)	eppendorf
Ethyl Alcohol 99.9%	Duksan	D5
Excel	Microsoft
Fibrinogen from bovine plasma	Sigma Aldrich	F8630-1G
FITC Dextran 70 kDa	Sigma Aldrich	46945-100MG-F
Fluorescent beads (1.0 μm, green)	Sigma Aldrich	L1030-1ML
GelMA-powder (Gelatin methacrylate) 50 g	3D Materials	20JT29
Gibco, Recovery Cell Culture Freezing Medium, 50 mL	Gibco
HUVECs (Human Umbillical Vein Endothelial Cells)	Promocell
ImageJ software	NIH
Incubator	Thermo SCIENTIFIC	Forma STERI-CYCLE i160 CO2 Incubator
Invitrogen, Live/dead viability/cytotoxicity Kit (for mammalian cells)	Thermo Fisher	L3224
Lithium Phenyl (2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl) phosphate powder	Tokoyo Chemical Industry CO.	85073-19-4
Marienfeld Superior, Counting chamber cover	Marienfeld Superior
Marienfeld Superior, Hemocytometer, cell counting chamber	Marienfeld Superior	HSU-0650030
Microcentrifuge	eppendorf	Centrifuge 5920 R
NCViewer.com
Nitrogen tank	WORTHINGTON INDUSTRIES	LS750
Omnicure UV Laser	EXCELITAS	SERIES 1500
Parafilm M	amcor	PM-996
Penicillin-Streptomycin Solution (100x)	GenDEPOT	CA005-010
Planetary Mixer	THINKY CORPORATION, japan	ARE-310
Plasma treatment machine	FEMTO SCIENCE	CUTE-1MPR
Pluronic F-127	Sigma aldrich	P2443-250G
Pre-made buffer, (P2007-1) 10x PBS	Biosesang	PR4007-100-00
Reagent storage cabinet	ZIO FILTER TECH	SC2-30F-1306D1-BC
Real time Live cell Imaging Microscope	Carl ZEISS
Refrigerator	SAMSUNG	RT50K6035SL
ROCKER 2D digital	IKA	4003000
Scoop-Spatula	CacheBy	SL-SCO7001-EA
sigma,Trypsin-EDTA solition, 0.25%	Sigma aldrich	T4049-100ML
Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate (SDS)	Thermo Fisher scientific	151-21-3
Syringe Barrel Tip Cap	FISNAR	3051806
Tally counter	Control Company	C23-147-050
Tapered Nozzle (18 G)	Mushashi	TPND-18G-U
Tapered Nozzle (22 G)	Mushashi	TPND-22G-U
Tapered nozzle 20 G	Musashi	TPND-20G-U
Thrombin from bovine plasma	Sigma Aldrich	T7326-1KU
Timer, 4-channel	ETL	SL.Tim3005
Trypan Blue Solution 0.4%	Gibco	15250061
Trypsin Neutralizing Solution	Promocell	C-41120
UG 24 mL UG ointment jar	Yamayu	No. 3-53
UG 58 mL UG ointment jar	Yamayu	No. 3-55
Water Bath	DAIHAN Scientific	WB-11
Weight machine	Sartorius	bce2241-1skr