Figure 1
From: High-throughput 3D microvessel-on-a-chip model to study defective angiogenesis in systemic sclerosis
Endothelial microvessel culture and sprouting. (A) The microfluidic microtiter plate ‘OrganoPlate’ was used for a 3D cell culture, based on a 384 well plate interface with 40 microfluidic chips integrated in the bottom. The gel channel (blue) holds the collagen extracellular matrix (ECM) in place through the phaseguide’s pressure barrier function. (B) Endothelial cells are loaded in the top channel (perfusion lane) to form a microvessel adjacent to the ECM in the middle channel. Bidirectional perfusion of the culture is induced by placing the OrganoPlate on an interval rocking platform. A gradient of an angiogenic cocktail is applied to induce sprout formation. (C) Immunofluorescent characterization of HMVEC tubules after 4 days of culture with FBS or HHS. (D) Immunofluorescent characterization of HMVEC tubules after 4 days of sprouting with FBS or HHS. On the right, a confocal maximum projection of the middle channel represents the sprouting area in the ECM. (E) Calcein-AM live cell staining of sprouted HMVEC cultures on day 8. All scale bars are 100 µm.
