Vascular microphysiological systems to model diseases

Cell & Gene Therapy Insights 2020; 6(1), 93-102

10.18609/cgti.2020.012

Published: 14 February 2020
Expert Insight
Qiao Zhang, Xu Zhang, George A Truskey

Human vascular microphysiological systems (MPS) represent promising 3D in vitro models of normal and diseased vascular tissue. These systems build upon advances in tissue engineering, microfluidics, and stem cell differentiation and replicate key functional units of organs and tissues. Vascular models have been developed for the microvasculature as well as medium-size arterioles. Key functions of the vascular system have been reproduced and stem cells offer the potential to model genetic diseases and population variation in genes that may increase individual risk for cardiovascular disease. Such systems can be used to evaluate new therapeutics options.