Engineered Vasculature for Organ-on-a-Chip Systems

Abstract

Organ-on-a-chip technology, a promising three-dimensional (3D) dynamic culture method, ensures accurate and efficient cell culture and has great potential for replacing animal models in preclinical testing. The circulatory system, the most abundant organ in the human body, plays a crucial role in oxygen exchange and mass transfer, which is the determining factor for the survival of tissues and organs. Thus, it is essential to integrate the circulatory system into an organ-on-a-chip to recreate tissue and organ microenvironments and physiological functions. This review discusses the synergy between the vasculature and the emerging organ-on-a-chip technology, which offers even better possibilities of duplicating physiology and disease characteristics. In addition, we review the different steps of a vascularized organ-on-a-chip fabrication process, including structure fabrication and tissue construction using different biofabrication strategies. Finally, we outline the applicability of this technology in the fascinating and fast-developing field of organ and tumor culture.