Biofabrication Strategies and Engineered In Vitro Systems for Vascular Mechanobiology

Abstract

The vascular system is integral for maintaining organ‐specific functions and homeostasis. Dysregulation in vascular architecture and function can lead to various chronic or acute disorders. Investigation of the role of the vascular system in health and disease has been accelerated through the development of tissue‐engineered constructs and microphysiological on‐chip platforms. These in vitro systems permit studies of biochemical regulation of vascular networks and parenchymal tissue and provide mechanistic insights into the biophysical and hemodynamic forces acting in organ‐specific niches. Detailed understanding of these forces and the mechanotransductory pathways involved is necessary to develop preventative and therapeutic strategies targeting the vascular system. This review describes vascular structure and function, the role of hemodynamic forces in maintaining vascular homeostasis, and measurement approaches for cell and tissue level mechanical properties influencing vascular phenomena. State‐of‐the‐art techniques for fabricating in vitro microvascular systems, with varying degrees of biological and engineering complexity, are summarized. Finally, the role of vascular mechanobiology in organ‐specific niches and pathophysiological states, and efforts to recapitulate these events using in vitro microphysiological systems, are explored. It is hoped that this review will help readers appreciate the important, but understudied, role of vascular‐parenchymal mechanotransduction in health and disease toward developing mechanotherapeutics for treatment strategies.

A Review of Single-Cell Adhesion Force Kinetics and Applications

“…The technology has grown and upgraded from the study of cell adhesion properties and dynamics into the development of tissue-on-a-chip and later into organ-on-a-chip for biochemical and pathological studies. The monolayer of cells was grown in the microfluidic channel to mimic the human vascular system, and it can be used for bioengineering and biochemical analysis [ 101 ]. Basabe-Desmonts et al reported a simple method, interfacial platelet cytometry (iPC) platform with a self-powered microfluidic device enabling platelet separation, and its adhesion studies [ 102 ].…”

Strategies for Delivering Nanoparticles across Tumor Blood Vessels

“…[ 61 ] Laser ablation has also been explored as a method for generating highly accurate and precise vascular networks within hydrogels through the degradation of the hydrogel with a pulsed laser on an image‐guided control system, so that cells can then be seeded in the newly formed channels. [ 182,183 ] These strategies for engineering vasculature for in vitro studies and implantations, along with several others, are discussed in detail in recently published reviews by Vunjak‐Novakoiv and co‐workers [ 184 ] and Slater co‐workers [ 185 ]…”

From Arteries to Capillaries: Approaches to Engineering Human Vasculature

“…The pulsatile nature of blood flow exposes vascular cells to cyclic tensile strain which can be uniaxial or multiaxial, depending on the blood vessel location. [ 118 ] Applying cyclic stretch in the physiological regime (5–10%) can significantly enhance proangiogenic GF secretion, microvessel sprouting, and lumen orientation. [ 119 ] In addition, the degree of cell‐induced forces directly correlates not only with vessel elongation but with network quality as well.…”