Microfluidic-based 3D cell culture for studies of biophysical and biochemical regulation of endothelial function

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Chemical Engineering, 2012.

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Vickerman, Vernella V. V. (Vernella Velonie Verlin)
Other Authors: Roger D. Kamm and Paula T. Hammond.
Format: Thesis
Language:eng
Published: Massachusetts Institute of Technology 2013
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/76487
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author Vickerman, Vernella V. V. (Vernella Velonie Verlin)
author2 Roger D. Kamm and Paula T. Hammond.
author_facet Roger D. Kamm and Paula T. Hammond.
Vickerman, Vernella V. V. (Vernella Velonie Verlin)
author_sort Vickerman, Vernella V. V. (Vernella Velonie Verlin)
collection MIT
description Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Chemical Engineering, 2012.
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spelling mit-1721.1/764872019-04-11T07:06:08Z Microfluidic-based 3D cell culture for studies of biophysical and biochemical regulation of endothelial function Microfluidic-based three dimensional cell culture for studies of biophysical and biochemical regulation of endothelial function Vickerman, Vernella V. V. (Vernella Velonie Verlin) Roger D. Kamm and Paula T. Hammond. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Chemical Engineering. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Chemical Engineering. Chemical Engineering. Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Chemical Engineering, 2012. Cataloged from PDF version of thesis. Includes bibliographical references (p. 210-229). New and more biologically relevant in vitro models are needed for use in drug development, regenerative medicine, and fundamental scientific investigations. The ultimate challenge lies in replicating the native cell/tissue environment ex vivo. Certain key features of living tissues such as the three dimensionality, biophysical and biochemical microenvironment cannot be readily replicated in traditional culture platforms. Moreover, the capability for multi-parameter manipulation, on a single platform, with the optical resolution to monitor the dynamics of individual cells or small populations is lacking. In this thesis, we developed a novel multiparameter microfluidic-based cell culture platform. The system permits 2D or 3D culture of cells on/in biologically-derived or synthetic hydrogel scaffolds and allows for controlled flow rates, pressure and concentration gradients while directly visualizing cellular response. In addition to the realtime and post-fixation imaging using optical microscopy, methods were developed to extend post-fixation analysis to transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The platform was subsequently used to demonstrate for the first time, two microfluidicbased 3D in vitro assays with direct relevance to tumor development and glaucoma. For the first assay, biochemical induced sprouting was demonstrated. Endothelial cells sprout from an intact monolayer to form multicellular capillary-like structures. Furthermore, using time-lapse microscopy the cellular dynamics during sprouting angiogenesis were observed with great detail, showing tip cell dynamics, cell division events and lumen formation. Of particular relevance to tissue engineering community, we demonstrated that endothelial cells when cultured for several days can assemble into vascular networks with open, perfusable lumen. Using this new system, we present novel findings and results supporting a potential mechanism for flow-mediated mechanical regulation of angiogenesis by transendothelial fluid flow. We demonstrate that flow direction is sufficient to define an angiogenic ON or OFF state. The balance is tipped by forces generated at mechano-sensitive cell-matrix adhesions involving FAK-mediated signaling. These results provide one explanation for the bias towards angiogenesis occurring from the venous side of the circulation. For the second assay, an aqueous humor (AH) outflow model was developed. Subsequent proof-of-concept experiments confirmed its capability for studying the role of the inner wall endothelium in the regulation of AH outflow dynamics. by Vernella V. V. Vickerman. Ph.D. 2013-01-23T19:43:16Z 2013-01-23T19:43:16Z 2012 2012 Thesis http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/76487 822561399 eng M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission. http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582 229 p. application/pdf Massachusetts Institute of Technology
spellingShingle Chemical Engineering.
Vickerman, Vernella V. V. (Vernella Velonie Verlin)
Microfluidic-based 3D cell culture for studies of biophysical and biochemical regulation of endothelial function
title Microfluidic-based 3D cell culture for studies of biophysical and biochemical regulation of endothelial function
title_full Microfluidic-based 3D cell culture for studies of biophysical and biochemical regulation of endothelial function
title_fullStr Microfluidic-based 3D cell culture for studies of biophysical and biochemical regulation of endothelial function
title_full_unstemmed Microfluidic-based 3D cell culture for studies of biophysical and biochemical regulation of endothelial function
title_short Microfluidic-based 3D cell culture for studies of biophysical and biochemical regulation of endothelial function
title_sort microfluidic based 3d cell culture for studies of biophysical and biochemical regulation of endothelial function
topic Chemical Engineering.
url http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/76487
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