Microengineering 3D Collagen Hydrogels with Long-Range Fiber Alignment

Summary

This protocol demonstrates the use of a microfluidic channel with changing geometry along the fluid flow direction to generate extensional strain (stretching) to align fibers in a 3D collagen hydrogel (<250 µm in thickness). The resulting alignment extends across several millimeters and is influenced by the extensional strain rate.

Abstract

Aligned collagen I (COL1) fibers guide tumor cell motility, influence endothelial cell morphology, control stem cell differentiation, and are a hallmark of cardiac and musculoskeletal tissues. To study cell response to aligned microenvironments in vitro, several protocols have been developed to generate COL1 matrices with defined fiber alignment, including magnetic, mechanical, cell-based, and microfluidic methods. Of these, microfluidic approaches offer advanced capabilities such as accurate control over fluid flows and the cellular microenvironment. However, the microfluidic approaches to generate aligned COL1 matrices for advanced in vitro culture platforms have been limited to thin "mats" (<40 µm in thickness) of COL1 fibers that extend over distances less than 500 µm and are not conducive to 3D cell culture applications. Here, we present a protocol to fabricate 3D COL1 matrices (130-250 µm in thickness) with millimeter-scale regions of defined fiber alignment in a microfluidic device. This platform provides advanced cell culture capabilities to model structured tissue microenvironments by providing direct access to the micro-engineered matrix for cell culture.

Introduction

Cells reside in a complex 3D fibrous network called the extracellular matrix (ECM), the bulk of which is composed of the structural protein collagen type I (COL1)^1,2. The biophysical properties of the ECM provide guidance cues to cells, and in response, cells remodel the ECM microarchitecture^3,4,5. These reciprocal cell-matrix interactions can give rise to aligned COL1 fiber domains⁶ that promote angiogenesis and cell invasion in the tumor environment⁷

Protocol

1. Fabrication of the two-piece channel and modular platform base

NOTE: The microfluidic channel is constructed using two parts — the microfluidic channel "cutout", which is razor cut from a poly dimethyl siloxane (PDMS) sheet of defined thickness, and the channel cover, which reversibly bonds to the cutout and forms the channel. The channel is surrounded by a poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) frame that will acts as a media reservoir (Figure 1). The PMMA frame can also be used to magnetically latch specialized modules for added functionality.

1. Razor cutting ch....

Results

When a self-assembling COL1 solution flows through a channel with decreasing cross-sectional area, the streamwise velocity (v_x) of the COL1 solution increases locally by a magnitude, ∂v_x, along the length of the constriction between the two segments (∂x), resulting in an extensional strain rate (ε̇) where ε̇ = ∂v_x/∂x. The extensional strain rate can be calculated from the fluid velocity, which is measured using particle image velocimetry (PIV), .......

Discussion

Protocols to generate COL1 matrices with aligned fibers have been described using magnetic methods, the direct application of mechanical strain, and microfluidic techniques⁴⁷. Microfluidic approaches are commonly used to create microphysiological systems because of their well-defined flow and transport characteristics, which enable precise control over the biochemical microenvironment. Since aligned COL1 fibers provide key instructive cues during pathophysiological processes such as wound healing,.......

Materials

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
(3-Aminopropyl)triethoxysilane, 99% (APTES)	Sigma Aldrich	440140-100ML
20 Gauge IT Series Angled Dispensing Tip	Jensen Global	JG-20-1.0-90
3/16" dia. x 1/16" thick Nickel Plated Magnet	KJ Magnetics	D31
3M (TC) 12X12-6-467MP	DigiKey	3M9726-ND
ACETONE ACS REAGENT ≥99.5%	Signa Aldrich	179124-4L
BD-20AC LABORATORY CORONA TREATER	Electro-Technic Products	12051A
Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA), Fraction V, 98%, Reagent Grade, Alfa Aesar	VWR	AAJ64100-09
Clear cast acrylic sheet	McMaster-Carr	8560K181
Corning 100 mL Trypsin 10x, 2.5% Trypsin in HBSS [-] calcium, magnesium, phenol red, Porcine Parvovirus Tested	VWR	45000-666
Countess II Automated Cell Counter	Thermo Fisher Scientific	AMQAX1000
CT-FIRE software	LOCI - University of Wisconsin
EGM-2 Endothelial Cell Growth Medium-2 BulletKit, (CC-3156 & CC-4176), Lonza CC-3162, 500 mL	Lonza	CC-3162
Glutaraldehyde 50% in aqueous solution, Reagent Grade, Packaging=HDPE Bottle, Size=100 mL	VWR	VWRV0875-100ML
Graphtec CELITE-50	Graphtec	CE LITE-50
HEPES (1 M)	Thermo Fisher Scientific	15-630-080
High-Purity Silicone Rubber .010" Thick, 6" X 8" Sheet, 55A Durometer	McMaster-Carr	87315K62
Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial cells	Thermo Fisher Scientific	C0035C
Invitrogen Trypan Blue Stain (0.4%)	Thermo Fisher Scientific	T10282
Isopropanol	Fisher Scientific	A4154
Laser cutter	Full Spectrum	20x12 H-series
Microfluidics Syringe pump	New Era Syringe Pumps	NE-1002X
Microman E Single Channel Pipettor, Gilson, Model M1000E	Gilson	FD10006
Molecular Probes Alexa Fluor 488 Phalloidin	Thermo Fisher Scientific	A12379
Molecular Probes Hoechst 33342, Trihydrochloride, Trihydrate	Thermo Fisher Scientific	H3570
Nutragen Bovine Atelo Collagen	Advanced BioMatrix	5010-50ML
Pbs (10x), pH 7.4	VWR	70011044.00
PBS pH 7.4	Thermo Fisher Scientific	10010049.00
Phosphate-buffered saline (PBS, 10x), with Triton X-100	Alfa Aesar	J63521
Replacement carrier sheet for graphtec craft ROBO CC330L-20	USCUTTER	GRPCARSHTN
Restek Norm-Ject Plastic Syringe 1 mL Luer Slip	Restek	22766.00
Silicon wafer	University wafer	452
Sodium Hydroxide, ACS, Packaging=Poly Bottle, Size=500 g	VWR	BDH9292-500G
Sylgard 184	VWR	102092-312
Thermo Scientific Pierce 20x PBS Tween 20	Thermo Fisher Scientific	28352.00