Assessing the Permeability of Engineered Capillary Networks in a 3D Culture
Author Information
Author(s): Stephanie J. Grainger, Andrew J. Putnam
Primary Institution: Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
Hypothesis
The study tests the resistance to permeability of engineered capillary networks grown with different stromal cell types as a metric of vessel functionality.
Conclusion
The identity of stromal cells significantly influences the functionality and physiological relevance of engineered capillary networks.
Supporting Evidence
- Permeability dropped from 61% to 39% after 7 days, and to 7% after 2 weeks in fibroblast-EC co-cultures.
- Co-cultures with MSCs or AdSCs showed reduced permeabilities of 41% and 50% compared to fibroblast co-cultures after 3 days.
- By day 14, permeabilities decreased by 68% and 77% for MSC and AdSC co-cultures, respectively.
Takeaway
This study shows that different types of supporting cells can change how well tiny blood vessels work, which is important for making artificial tissues.
Methodology
The study used a 3D co-culture method with endothelial cells and various stromal cells to assess capillary permeability using a fluorescent dextran tracer.
Limitations
The study primarily focuses on in vitro models, which may not fully replicate in vivo conditions.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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