Figure 1.

3D vascularized tumor model for cancer-specific characterization and drug dissemination. A) Schematic of the protocol used to generate tumor spheroids within microvascular networks (TS-MVNs). Gel-cell mixture was inserted into the middle gel port of 3mm width, 0.5mm height, 15mm length, and media added to the two adjacent channels following polymerization. B) Histology image (H&E stain) of TS within gel and microvascular network after 7 days in co-culture. C) Epi-fluorescent images showing a region of interest centered on the tumor within the TS-MVN chips. TS diameter increases over time in culture with MVNs. TSs (red), HUVEC (green). White dashed line shows approximate diameter at day 1 overlaid on each subsequent time-point. Scale bar is 200 microns. D) Effective diameters (2D) measurements were performed for n=6 spheroids each. Significance is indicated by * for P < 0.0001 with paired t-tests between subsequent days (example between days 1 and 2). Two sample t-tests between tumor types is significant (P < 0.0001) between days 2-5.