Bottom-up fabrication of 3D cell-laden microfluidic constructs

Microfluidic scaffold or hydrogel has attracted extensive interests in generating thick tissues or organs. It is still challenging to produce complex three-dimensional (3D) microfluidic network from natural biomaterials like silk fibroin and chitosan. Here we present a bottom-up approach to fabricate 3D microfluidic constructs by rolling monolayer cell-loaded scaffolds. The results demonstrated that the microfluidic channels were maintained relatively well and the cells were uniformly distributed in 3D. The 3D cell-laden microfluidic constructs were dynamically cultured in a house-made bioreactor system to enhance mass transport and the cells inside exhibited long-term viability. We envision that this simple yet versatile method can be potentially used to engineer 3D vascularized tissues.

► A bottom-up method was proposed to create 3D living microfluidic constructs.
► Complex 3D microstructures can be produced from ECM-like natural biomaterials.
► 3D microfluidic network and high cell density were simultaneously achieved.
► Microfluidic network has functioned as a fluid pathway to impove cell viability.