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Perspective Article
pitulate macrovascular flow stream configurations (rec- 27 The ex vivo artery model recapitulated physiological tangular flow stream versus circular flow stream) and do flow stream configurations by connecting human umbili- not test physiological hematocrits (<10% whole cal arteries in a perfusable circuit.28 However, the use of blood/packed RBC suspensions versus undiluted blood).25- harvested arteries meant that the model was susceptible
Figure 1. Five key decision points in vascular model design. The five key factors are channel geometry, hydrogel scaffold, endothelial cells, circuit design and per- fusate mixture. Branched channels less than 200 mm in diameter are produced using photolithography and soft lithography while straight channels greater than 120 μm in diameter are produced using rod/needle casting. The hydrogel scaffold can be produced in one or two pieces and may be seeded with perivascular cells. Endothelial cells are subsequently seeded onto the channels and cultured under flow conditions to form a confluent monolayer. The vascular model is then connected to a circuit with a pump with or without a gas trap. The last decision involves choosing the type of perfusate to be circulated through the circuit. CP: cryoprecipitate; EDTA: ethylenediamine-tetraacetic acid; FFP: fresh-frozen plasma; HAECs: human aortic endothelial cells; HDMECs: human dermal microvascular endothelial cells; HLMECs: human lung microvascular endothelial cells; HUVECs: human umbilical vein endothelial cells; PDMS: polydimethylsiloxane; Plt: platelet concentrates; PRBC: packed red blood cells; PSC: pluripotent stem cells.
haematologica | 2019; 104(3)
431