This study by Team Omics4CMeat focuses on creating a more realistic lab model (“in vitro model”) for forming 3D tubular tissue barriers that support fluid flow. Closely mimicking the behavior of real tissues, this simple yet scalable method holds strong potential for studying diseases, testing drugs, and advancing tissue engineering.
Keywords
- 3D tissue barrier model
- Cell migration
- In vitro model
- Tissue engineering
Research Highlights
- 3D tissue barrier models mimic real cell interactions, but building perfusable tissue barriers are difficult
- Combining wire molding, collagen self-assembly, and cell migration yields a 3D model compatible with fluid flow
- Researchers discovered a simple molding method that forms uniform, high-density barriers with the lowest lab-measured permeability
- This new scalable method can help improve drug testing, disease modeling, and tissue engineering
Editorial Reflections
In this study, the researchers show how cell migration can be used to create a realistic, fluid 3D barrier model. What makes this especially exciting is that the approach is scalable, opening the door to applications across future biomedical and pharmaceutical research.
Team Omics4CMeat at McMaster University aims to complement traditional meat production by developing technologies to support cell-cultured meat as an additional protein source to help reduce GHG emissions. Contributing authors from the team are (in alphabetical order):
Curious about Team Omics4CMeat’s ongoing work? Visit cccm.mcmaster.ca to learn more.
Food for Thought: Read the full article here. Where else in this field, or even beyond it, could this approach make a difference? What stood out to you or left you curious after reading the study?
References
Jalali, S. & Selvaganapathy, P. R. (2024). A self-assembly and cellular migration based fabrication of high-density 3D tubular constructs of barrier forming membranes. Lab on a Chip, 24(9), 2468–2484. https://doi.org/10.1039/D4LC00006D
