Researchers at Uppsala University in Sweden have developed a special culture chamber, a micro lab designed to study angiogenesis. Using tiny electrodes, researchers say they can send signals to the vessels that seem to regulate their growth. The technology might shed light on growth of blood vessels in cancers, inflammatory conditions, and post-ischemic tissue regeneration.
From the study abstract published in Lab on a Chip:
Many signals that induce angiogenesis have been identified; however, it is still not clear how these signals interact to shape the vascular system. We have developed a fluidic device for generation of molecular gradients in 3-dimensional cultures of complex tissues and organs in order to create an assay for precise induction and guidance of growing blood vessels. The device features a centrally placed culture chamber, flanked by channels attached to a perfusion system used to generate gradients. A separate network of vacuum channels permits reversible attachment of the device to a flat surface. We show that the fluidic device can be used to create growth factor gradients that induce directional angiogenesis in embryonic mouse kidneys and in clusters of differentiating stem cells. These results demonstrate that the device can be used to accurately manipulate complex morphogenetic processes with a high degree of experimental control.
Press release: Tiny tool to control growing blood vessels opens new potential in tumor research …
Abstract in Lab on a Chip…