Exploring Endothelial Expansion on a Chip

Angiogenesis is the development of new blood vessels from the existing vasculature. Its malfunction leads to the development of cancers and cardiovascular diseases qualified by the WHO as a leading cause of death worldwide. A better understanding of mechanisms regulating physiological and pathological angiogenesis will potentially contribute to developing more effective treatments for those urgent issues. Therefore, the main goal of the following study was to design and manufacture an angiogenesis-on-a-chip microplatform, including cylindrical microvessels created by Viscous Finger Patterning (VFP) technique and seeded with HUVECs. While optimizing the VFP procedure, we have observed that lumen’s diameter decreases with a diminution of the droplet’s volume. The influence of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) with a concentration of 5, 25, 50, and 100 ng/mL on the migration of HUVECs was assessed. VEGF’s solution with concentrations varying from 5 to 50 ng/mL reveals high angiogenic potential. The spatial arrangement of cells and their morphology were visualized by fluorescence and confocal microscopy. Migration of HUVECs toward loaded angiogenic stimuli has been initiated after overnight incubation. This research is the basis for developing more complex vascularized multi-organ-on-a-chip microsystems that could potentially be used for drug screening

Magnetic polyurethane nanomaterials: A novel approach for in vitro cardiac cell maturation and culture

In this study, we have investigated how new composite material (magnetic polyurethane (PU) nanofibers) influences the culture and maturation of cardiomyocyte cells. Magnetic iron (II, III) oxide nanoparticles (Fe3O4, MNPs) were incorporated into the nanofiber structure using the solution blow spinning (SBS) method, resulting in composite magnetic nanofiber mats. These mats were characterized by physicochemical, optical (Young's modulus, wettability, surface zeta potential, autofluorescence), and magnetic properties. It was found that adding MNPs provided magnetic functionality and significantly reduced the autofluorescence properties of nanofiber mats. High viability of Human Cardiomyocytes (HCM) cells was obtained for magnetic nanofibrous mats. The results showed that the presence of MNPs increased the viability of HCM cells by 70% (p < 0.05) compared to cultures on non-magnetic nanofibers. Moreover, AMF increased troponin T and MYH6 levels for ten days of culture on magnetic nanofibers. The results suggest that culturing cardiac cells on magnetic PU nanofibrous mats more effectively replicates in vivo conditions than cultures on non-magnetic nanofibers, which may benefit cardiovascular disease research