Title:

Integrating Biomaterials with Microfluidics to Model Physiological Angiogenesis In Vitro

Vascularization is critical for tissue engineering as it provides blood flow to transfer oxygen, delivers nutrients, and removes waste.​ Currently, in vitro models do not fully capture the dynamic and multicellular morphogenic process that occurs during angiogenesis, while current in vivo animal models suffer low throughput and are ethically controversial. This project engineered a unique organotypic model of angiogenic sprouting and neo-vessel formation by creating artificial vessels fully encapsulated within a 3D collagen hydrogel matrix. As a novel testing method, this research can be applied to the development of drug treatments and to combat the attrition rates of drug therapies in clinical trials. Microfluidic devices are able to recapitulate local tissue environments, model tumor penetrating therapeutics, and cancer-induced angiogenesis. All of which make them a compelling alternative for animal testing. Additionally, these chips could make personalized medicine more accessible by offering a cost-effective and portable method for efficient diagnostics.​

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