Creating Perfusable Endothelial Channels within Granular Hydrogel Microfluidic Devices while Understanding the Development of Sophisticated Biomedical Devices’ Influence on Accessibility in HealthCare

Microvasculature deformation is a major contributor to various diseases, some include diabetes, hypertension, and rheumatoid arthritis. Microvascular networks (MVNs) are composed of tiny capillaries, veins, and arterioles. These micro-vessels play a vital role in the delivery of nutrients, oxygen, and removing harmful waste from tissues. Despite their importance in understanding disease mechanisms, current in vitro models fail to replicate complex properties of microvasculature within the body. Therefore, current models are less effective for studying disease etiologies and drug responses. Without accurate models, researchers must rely on animal models and human trials.

To address these challenges, we have developed a microfluidic device that integrates perusable channels within fiber-based hydrogels. This device will allow researchers to mimic microvasculature more adequately, by providing an environment where Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (HUVEC) can self-assemble into functional microvascular networks within the device. The porous and dynamic properties of the hydrogel create an environment that closely mimics the extracellular matrix, where microvasculature naturally forms in the body. This platform will eventually support personalized drug response testing without the need for animal or human testing.

The success of this microfluidic device not only depends on its efficacy and biological precision, but also on its usability and access to researchers, biotechnology institutions, and students in an academic setting. Current issues with microfluidic device platforms are their lack of portability and incompatibility with aseptic techniques in biosafety hoods. These are social and human dimensions that must be considered to improve the broader adoption of microfluidic devices. By examining these system barriers, the aim is to understand how biomedical technologies further healthcare disparities and uncover strategies to create more scalable affordable, and adaptable biomedical technologies.

Drawing from Science, Technology, and Society (STS) research, particularly Michael I. Harrison’s theory of Unintended Consequences, I am examining the systemic impacts that arise from the adoption of biomedical technologies. Through an extensive literature review and mapping of healthcare accessibility in Virginia, I compared disparities between well-resourced regions like Northern Virginia and under-resourced areas like Appalachian Virginia and parts of Hampton Roads. My analysis revealed that despite technological advancements, systemic barriers such as lack of funding, limited infrastructure, and geographic isolation prohibit the widespread adoption of innovative medical technologies.

Combining engineering innovation with STS analysis, I have bridged the gap between medical technology and its real-world application in the healthcare system. Although the microfluidic device will primarily be used in research settings, it has the potential to be used clinically in the future. As a result, I can see how factors such as accessibility, affordability and utility are important at every stage of the development of a medical device or therapeutic, not just in research alone.