Vascularization of tissue-engineered constructs, requiring the transport of oxygen, nutrients and waste through a thick and cellular dense meshwork, continues to hamper the success of the technology in addressing the donor organ shortage crisis. Microfluidic technology has emerged as a viable alternative to traditional in vitro platforms utilized by tissue engineers, to understand how the complex cellular microenvironment directs vascular cell behavior and functionality. In this review, the essence of microfluidic technology and transport phenomenon that make them unique for vascular tissue engineering will be briefly introduced. The main scope of this review is to expose how new and innovative microfluidic fabrication techniques are being utilized for exciting applications that have allowed insight into the spatio/temporal dynamics of vascular cell behavior. Specifically, microfluidic devices which range in functionality from simultaneously controlling oxygen and shear stress levels to perfusable biopolymer networks, will be discussed in the context of how they bolster traditional in vitro platforms, by providing greater data output, accessibility, and physiological relevance.

中文翻译：

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顺其自然：血管组织工程中的微流体平台。

组织工程结构的血管化需要通过厚厚的细胞密集网状结构运输氧气、营养和废物，继续阻碍该技术在解决供体器官短缺危机方面的成功。微流体技术已成为组织工程师使用的传统体外平台的可行替代方案，以了解复杂的细胞微环境如何指导血管细胞的行为和功能。在这篇综述中，将简要介绍微流体技术的本质和使它们在血管组织工程中独一无二的传输现象。本次审查的主要范围是揭示新的和创新的微流体制造技术如何被用于令人兴奋的应用，这些应用允许深入了解血管细胞行为的时空动态。具体而言，微流体装置的功能范围从同时控制氧气和剪切应力水平到可灌注的生物聚合物网络，将在它们如何通过提供更大的数据输出、可访问性和生理相关性来支持传统体外平台的背景下进行讨论。