Artificial Capillary Network Chip for in Vitro 3D Tissue Culture

The authors of this letter propose an "artificial capillary network chip" to culture cells in thick 3-D environment in vitro. The artificial blood capillary network chip supplies nutrients and gases to cells cultured in 3-D gel matrix through microchannel walls made of thin permeable membrane. The chip was fabricated using membrane micro embossing (MeME) process - originally developed in our laboratory for fabricating 3-D thin polymer membrane micro structures. We have successfully fabricated a prototype chip with highly branched microchannels made of porous biodegradable poly- lacticacid (PLA) membrane. We have confirmed the size-selective permeability and the biocompatibility of the chip. This technology will provide a useful method for studying cell behaviors in 3-D condition and, furthermore, regenerating large tissues in vitro for transplantation in near future.