University of Twente Student Theses
Optimizing Blood Vessel-on-a-Chip Models: The Impact of Mesenchymal Stem Cells on Endothelial Monolayer Integrity
Ham, Diede van der (2024) Optimizing Blood Vessel-on-a-Chip Models: The Impact of Mesenchymal Stem Cells on Endothelial Monolayer Integrity.
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| Abstract: | This study aimed to create a structurally correct bilayered blood vessel-on-chip model with a mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) support layer surrounding a human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) monolayer. The developed model was used to investigate the effect of MSCs on the integrity of the endothelial monolayer. A microfluidic platform was fabricated and microchannels were coated with a collagen matrix. A circular lumen in the collagen matrix was created with the template removal method, after which the lumen was seeded with MSCs prior to HUVECs. Additional experiments were performed on a plate to determine the effects of co-culture in a collagen gel without the limitations of on-chip experiments. In the research, challenges were encountered such as incomplete staining and non-confluent cell layers, which hindered clear conclusions on MSC and HUVEC layer mixing. Nonetheless, co-culturing MSCs with HUVECs seemed to enhance endothelial junction formation, suggesting MSCs may support endothelial integrity. Seeding cells onto microfluidic chips showed that achieving uniform cell attachment throughout the lumen was difficult. Cells primarily attached to the bottom surface of the lumen, emphasizing the need for protocol improvements to enhance cell adhesion within the lumen. While this study established a foundational model, further optimization is necessary to achieve clinically relevant and reproducible results. The results help to understand the interaction of MSCs with HUVECs within microfluidic systems and show the critical need for advanced techniques to further study the complex process of metastasis. |
| Item Type: | Essay (Bachelor) |
| Faculty: | TNW: Science and Technology |
| Programme: | Biomedical Technology BSc (56226) |
| Link to this item: | https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/103477 |
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