Microvasculature Systems
Integrating perfusable microvascular networks into organ-on-chip microtissues to more closely approximate in vivo physiology, enabling systemic-like interactions — including immune cell trafficking and paracrine signalling — that are impossible in avascular models.
Vascularized Myocardium
We engineer vascularized cardiac microtissues on chip by co-culturing cardiomyocytes with endothelial cells within perfusable microfluidic networks. The resulting constructs display improved maturation, enhanced contractile function, and allow the study of drug-induced cardiotoxicity under physiologically relevant perfusion conditions, bridging the gap between simple 2D monolayers and the native heart tissue.
Vascularized Tumour Models
Our vascularized tumour-on-chip platforms embed perfusable microvascular networks around 3D tumour constructs, enabling the study of nanoparticle extravasation, immune cell infiltration, and immune evasion mechanisms. These models provide a uniquely relevant setting for evaluating nanomedicine delivery strategies and immunotherapeutic approaches against solid tumours.
Vascularized Tumour Models — image coming soon
Blood–Brain Barrier
We develop microfluidic blood–brain barrier (BBB) chips that recapitulate the selective permeability of the cerebral microvasculature by co-culturing brain endothelial cells, pericytes, and astrocytes. These platforms are used to investigate CNS drug delivery, neuroinflammatory responses, and nanoparticle transport across the BBB, supporting the development of new therapies for neurological disorders.
Blood–Brain Barrier — image coming soon
Related Publications
Von Willebrand Factor Deficiency Impairs Angiogenesis via Angiopoietin-2: Relevance for Gut Angiodysplasia
Constantinescu-Bercu, A., Smith, K.E., Wong, S.Y., Ballerini, M., Nastro, A. et al.
Modular de- and re-construction of vascularized osteochondral tissues in an Organ-on-Chip dual-compartment platform
Mainardi, A., Barbero, A., Ehrbar, M., Rasponi, M., Martin, I. et al.
Development of a Microfluidic Vascularized Osteochondral Model as a Drug Testing Platform for Osteoarthritis
Salehi, S., Brambilla, S., Rasponi, M., Lopa, S., Moretti, M.
A method to generate perfusable physiologic-like vascular channels within a liver-on-chip model
Ferrari, E., Monti, E., Cerutti, C., Visone, R., Occhetta, P. et al.
Are slaughterhouse-obtained livers suitable for use in ex vivo perfusion research?
Ruppelt, A., Pijnenburg, I., Pappers, C., Samsom, R-A., Kock, L. et al.
Functional microvascularization of human myocardium in vitro
King, O., Cruz-Moreira, D., Sayed, A., Kermani, F., Kit-Anan, W. et al.
Physiologic flow-conditioning limits vascular dysfunction in engineered human capillaries
Haase, K., Piatti, F., Marcano, M., Shin, Y., Visone, R. et al.
Modeling In Vitro Osteoarthritis Phenotypes in a Vascularized Bone Model Based on a Bone-Marrow Derived Mesenchymal Cell Line and Endothelial Cells
Pirosa, A., Tankus, E.B., Mainardi, A., Occhetta, P., Dönges, L. et al.
Assessing the influence of perfusion on cardiac microtissue maturation: A heart-on-chip platform embedding peristaltic pump capabilities
Cruz-Moreira, D., Visone, R., Vasques-Nóvoa, F., Barros, A.S., Leite-Moreira, A. et al.
Lymphatic endothelium contributes to colorectal cancer growth via the soluble matrisome component GDF11
Ungaro, F., Colombo, P., Massimino, L., Ugolini, G.S., Correale, C. et al.
Enhancing all-in-one bioreactors by combining interstitial perfusion, electrical stimulation, on-line monitoring and testing within a single chamber for cardiac constructs
Visone, R., Talò, G., Lopa, S., Rasponi, M., Moretti, M.
Design and validation of a microfluidic device for blood-brain barrier monitoring and transport studies
Ugolini, G.S., Occhetta, P., Saccani, A., Re, F., Krol, S. et al.
Bioprinting 3D microfibrous scaffolds for engineering endothelialized myocardium and heart-on-a-chip
Zhang, Y.S., Arneri, A., Bersini, S., Shin, S.R., Zhu, K. et al.
Stoichiometric control of live cell mixing to enable fluidically-encoded co-culture models in perfused microbioreactor arrays
Occhetta, P., Glass, N., Otte, E., Rasponi, M., Cooper-White, J.J.
A Reliable Reversible Bonding Method to Perfuse Microfluidic Devices
Occhetta, P., Biffi, E., Rasponi, M.
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