Abstract 79: Optimizing Vascular Invasion into Hydrogel Scaffolds Using Bioactive Sphingolipids

RESULTS: The ATC provided consistently stable environmental and temperature control throughout extended cultures. Live imaging revealed dynamic endothelia with cells migrating throughout the vessel walls, both downstream (with) and upstream (against) the flow direction. Cell-cell junctions were contiguous, indicating a confluent, healthy endothelium with intact cytoskeletons. The cross-sectional area of the microvessel expanded and changed profile from the original square cross-section defined lithographically toward an elliptical cross-section with a larger dimension. The displacement of migrating endothelial cells correlated positively with the applied shear stress, with maximum displacement occurring at the highest shear 2.5 Pa (25 dyne/ cm). Similarly, the endothelial cells elongated and aligned in the direction of flow, with net alignment increasing with the magnitude of shear.