Construction of Hepatic Lobule-like Vascular Network by using Magnetic Fiber

Abstract

Vascular network in cell-dense structure is indispensable to avoid necrosis of cells densely located. In this paper, we propose a fabrication method of 3D vascular network in cell-dense tissue using magnetic fibers. Especially, a hepatic lobule-like vascular network is constructed by manipulating magnetic fibers. The hepatic lobule shows a hexagonal shape and multi-layered structure. For this, steel rods connected with the magnetic tweezer are used as portal and central veins, in addition, fibers play a role of sinusoid that transfers nutrients from portal to central vein. To attract and assemble magnetic fibers, enough magnetic fields are required and then we design a magnetic tweezer with seven poles based on the simulation data. Analysis of magnetic fields is attained by 3D electromagnetic simulation software, EMWorks. Experiments are conducted by using the proposed system, and therefore, we construct three-layered hepatic lobule like structure in fibrin gel.