Fig. 1: Skin-on-chip contains a stratified epidermis and dermis with a functional microvascular network.
From: Modeling human HSV infection via a vascularized immune-competent skin-on-chip platform
a, b Schematics of the major components in native human skin and skin-on-chip. c Representative 3-D reconstructed confocal image showing an overview of the cytoskeleton of the micro-engineered epidermis and dermis with underlying endothelialized microvascular network (white arrow indicates microfluidic flow direction). F-actin for cell cytoskeleton (green), DAPI for cell nucleus (blue). d Representative 3-D reconstructed confocal image illustrating basale (bottom, K14+) and corneous (upper, anucleate) layers in the epidermis of skin-on-chip. F-actin (green), K14 (red), DAPI (blue). Scale bar: 20 µm. e A cross-sectional view of hematoxylin–eosin (H&E) stained epidermis in the skin-on-chip. Scale bar: 20 µm. f Maximum intensity projected confocal image of an endothelialized microvascular network in the dermis after two weeks of culturing. F-actin (green), DAPI (blue). Scale bar: 100 µm. g Projected confocal images showing endothelium marker (CD31) expression, lumen formation (yz), and fibroblast capping of endothelial vessel (bottom). CD31 (green), Vimentin (red), DAPI (blue). Scale bar: 100 µm. h Representative fluorescence image after perfusion with 40 kDa FITC-Dextran through the microvasculature for 20 min. Graph depicts fluorescence intensity across the microvasculature inside the dashed box at 7 min (red) and 10 min after perfusion (blue). Scale bar: 100 µm. i F-actin cytoskeleton arrangement in endothelial cells and related flow shear force. Right: enlarged view within the white boxes. Scale bar: 100 µm. j Representative confocal image showing new sprouting from the main vessel lumen after angiogenetic stimuli. Right image shows cross-sectional view (yz). CD31 (green), Vimentin (red), DAPI (blue). Scale bar: 100 µm. Data are provided in a Source data file.
