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Method Article
Here, we provide a microfluidic chip and an automatically controlled, highly efficient circulation microfluidic system that recapitulates the initial microenvironment of neovascularization, allowing endothelial cells (ECs) to be stimulated by high luminal shear stress, physiological level of transendothelial flow, and various vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) distribution simultaneously.
Neovascularization is usually initialized from an existing normal vasculature and the biomechanical microenvironment of endothelial cells (ECs) in the initial stage varies dramatically from the following process of neovascularization. Although there are plenty of models to simulate different stages of neovascularization, an in vitro 3D model that capitulates the initial process of neovascularization under the corresponding stimulations of normal vasculature microenvironments is still lacking. Here, we reconstructed an in vitro 3D model that mimics the initial event of neovascularization (MIEN). The MIEN model contains a microfluidic sprouting chip and an automatic control, highly efficient circulation system. A functional, perfusable microchannel coated with endothelium was formed and the process of sprouting was simulated in the microfluidic sprouting chip. The initially physiological microenvironment of neovascularization was recapitulated with the microfluidic control system, by which ECs would be exposed to high luminal shear stress, physiological transendothelial flow, and various vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) distributions simultaneously. The MIEN model can be readily applied to the study of neovascularization mechanism and holds a potential promise as a low-cost platform for drug screening and toxicology applications.
Neovascularization happens in many normal and pathological processes1,2,3,4, which include two major processes in adults, angiogenesis and arteriogenesis5. Besides the best-known growth factors, such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)6, mechanical stimulations, in particular the blood flow induced shear stress, is important in the regulation of neovascularization7. As we know, the magnitude and forms of shear stress vary dramatically and dynamically in different parts of the vasculature, resulting in important effects on vascular cells8,9,10,11,12. Previous studies have shown that shear stress may affect various aspects of ECs, including cell phenotypic changes, signal transduction, gene expression, and the communication with mural cells13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20; hence, regulate neovascularization21,22,23,24.
Therefore, to better understand neovascularization, it is important to reconstruct the process in natural cellular microenvironment in vitro. Recently, many models have been established to create micro-vessels and provide precise control of microenvironment25,26,27, taking advantage of advances in microfabrication and microfluidic technology. In these models, micro-vessels can be generated by hydrogel28,29, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microfluidic chips30,31,32 or 3D bioprinting33,34. Some aspects of the microenvironment, such as luminal shear stress22,23,35,36, transendothelial flow37,38,39,40, biochemical gradient of angiogenic factors41,42, strain/stretch43,44,45, and co-cultured with other types of cells32,46 have been mimicked and controlled. Usually, a large reservoir or syringe pump was used to provide perfused medium. Transendothelial flow in these models was created by pressure drop between the reservoir and micro-tube22,23,38,40. However, the mechanical microenvironment was hard to maintain constantly in this way. Transendothelial flow would increase and then exceed the physiological level if a high flow rate with high shear stress was used for perfusion. Previous study showed that at the initial period of neovascularization, the velocity of transendothelial flow is very low due to the intact ECs and basement membrane, usually under 0.05 µm/s8. Meanwhile, though luminal shear stress in vascular system varies greatly, it is relatively high with mean values of 5-20 dyn/cm2,11,47. For now, the velocity of transendothelial flow in previous works have been generally kept between 0.5-15 µm/s22,38,39,40, and the luminal shear stress was usually under 10 dyn/cm2 23. It remains a difficult subject to constantly expose ECs to high luminal shear stress and physiological level of transendothelial flow simultaneously.
In the present study, we describe an in vitro 3D model to mimic the initial event of neovascularization (MIEN). We developed a microfluidic chip and an automatic control, highly efficient circulation system to form perfusion micro-tubes and simulate the process of sprouting48. With the MIEN model, the microenvironment of ECs stimulated at the initial period of neovascularization are firstly recapitulated. ECs can be stimulated by high luminal shear stress, physiological level of transendothelial flow and various VEGF distribution simultaneously. We describe the steps of establishing the MIEN model in detail and the key points to be paid attention to, hoping to provide a reference for other researchers.
1. Wafer preparation
NOTE: This protocol is specific for the SU-8 2075 negative photoresist used during this research.
2. Microfluidic sprouting chip fabrication
3. Surface modification and hydrogel injection
4. Cell seeding
5. Measurement of FITC-dextran diffusional permeability
NOTE: To assess barrier function of the micro-vessel, diffusional permeability of the EC culture channel with or without cell lining is assessed.
6. Microfluidic control system setup
NOTE: The microfluidic control system in the present study is consisted of a micro-syringe pump, an electromagnetic pinch valve, a bubble trap chip, a microfluidic chip, a micro-peristaltic pump, and a reservoir. Each part of the system can be replaced by alternatives able to perform the same function.
7. Endothelial sprouting assay
NOTE: A stage top incubator assembled with phase contrast microscope is used in the present study to observe the process of sprouting in real time. The stage top incubator can maintain the temperature, humidity, and CO2 control on microscope stages, being good for live cell imaging. But the equipment is not necessary for the assay. The protocols provided here can also be worked in a basic cell incubator.
8. Data analysis
NOTE: To quantify the sprouts, the normalized area of sprouting, average sprout length, and longest sprout length were calculated. Results represent mean ± SEM obtained from three independent studies. Statistical significance (P < 0.05) is assessed by Student's t-test.
The in vitro 3D model to mimic the initial event of neovascularization (MIEN) presented here consisted of a microfluidic sprouting chip and a microfluidic control system. The microfluidic sprouting chip was optimized from previous publications22,23,37,40,51,52,53. Briefly, it contai...
For a long time, real-time observation of neovascularization has been a problem. Several approaches have been developed recently to create perfused vessels lining with ECs and adjacent to extracellular matrix for sprouting22,32,40,46,54, but the mechanical microenvironment is still hard to maintain constantly. It remains a difficult subject to mimic the initia...
The authors have nothing to disclose.
This work was supported by the National Natural Science Research Foundation of China Grants-in-Aid (grant nos. 11827803, 31971244, 31570947, 11772036, 61533016, U20A20390 and 32071311), National key research and development program of China (grant nos. 2016YFC1101101 and 2016YFC1102202), the 111 Project (B13003), and the Beijing Natural Science Foundation (4194079).
Name | Company | Catalog Number | Comments |
0.25% Trypsin-EDTA | Genview | GP3108 | |
Collagen I, rat tail | Corning | 354236 | |
DAPI | Sigma-Aldrich | D9542 | |
Electromagnetic pinch valve | Wokun Technology | WK02-308-1/3 | |
Endothelial cell medium (ECM) | Sciencell | 1001 | |
Fetal bovine serum (FBS) | Every Green | NA | |
Fibronectin | Corning | 354008 | |
FITC-dextran | Miragen | 60842-46-8 | |
Graphical programming environment | Lab VIEW | NA | |
Image editing software | PhotoShop | NA | |
Image processing program | ImageJ | NA | |
Isopropanol | Sigma-Aldrich | 91237 | |
Lithography equipment | Institute of optics and electronics, Chinese academy of sciences | URE-2000/35 | |
Methanol | Sigma-Aldrich | 82762 | |
Micro-peristaltic pump | Lead Fluid | BT101L | |
Micro-syringe pump | Lead Fluid | TYD01 | |
Oxygen plasma | MING HENG | PDC-MG | |
Paraformaldehyde | Sigma-Aldrich | P6148 | |
PBS (10x) | Beyotime | ST448 | |
Permanent epoxy negative photoresist | Microchem | SU-8 2075 | |
Phenol Red sodium salt | Sigma-Aldrich | P5530 | |
Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) | Dow Corning | Sylgard 184 | |
Poly-D-lysine hydrobromide (PDL) | Sigma-Aldrich | P7886 | |
Polytetrafluoroethylene | Teflon | NA | |
Program software | MATLAB | NA | |
Recombinant Human VEGF-165 | StemImmune LLC | HVG-VF5 | |
Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) | Sigma-Aldrich | 1.06498 | |
Stage top incubator | Tokai Hit | NA | |
SU-8 developer | Microchem | NA | |
Trichloro(1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorooctyl)silane | Sigma-Aldrich | 448931 | |
TRITC Phalloidin | Sigma-Aldrich | P5285 |
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