# In Vitro Model to Study the Role of Microvascular Physiology in Regulation Osteogenesis

> **NIH NIH R21** · SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $201,720

## Abstract

Summary
A disruption in blood flow due to age, disease or injury has been linked to imbalances in bone homeostasis and
fracture healing processes. However, little is known about the interplay between blood flow within skeletal
capillaries, the heterogeneity of vascular endothelium, and the osteogenic potential of residing osteoprogenitor
cells. Current knowledge about skeletal capillaries has been primarily provided by the use of rodent models.
Recently, two distinct capillary sub-types coined as type H and type L were discovered in long bones of mice. A
decline in type H capillaries has been also linked to a decline in osteogenesis and overall bone mass in both
aged mice and in osteoporotic human subjects, however the underlying reasons remain poorly understood.
Taking inspiration from recent work in rodent models, we will develop a new in vitro human skeletal microvascular
model to study the role of microvascular physiology in regulating osteogenesis. Endothelial (ECs) and
osteoprogenitors (OPs) will be derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs), and incorporated
into biochips created through a new Hybrid Laser Printing (HLP) technology. Three specific aims are proposed.
Aim 1 will use HLP to print hydrogel biochips with embedded channel networks that resemble the serial
arrangement of type H and L capillary morphologies. Flow velocities, shear stresses and diffusion properties of
embedded channels will be characterized. Aim 2 will endothelialize the biochips with hiPSC-ECs, and endothelial
barrier function, regional hypoxia, vessel sprouting, and expression of flow-regulated genes will be assessed in
each type of vessel. Aim 3 will characterize the role of microvascular flow on osteogenic potential using hiPSC-
OPs. In summary, this project will develop a human skeletal microvasculature model for studying the structure-
property relationships between vessel morphology, its influence on endothelial heterogeneity and angiogenic
function, and corresponding physiological consequences on osteogenic potential. In the long-term, this model
can be broadly applied to screen clinically relevant therapeutics that target capillary beds of the skeletal system
as well as other organ types.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9870344
- **Project number:** 1R21AR076645-01
- **Recipient organization:** SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Pranav Soman
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $201,720
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-01-21 → 2021-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9870344

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9870344, In Vitro Model to Study the Role of Microvascular Physiology in Regulation Osteogenesis (1R21AR076645-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9870344. Licensed CC0.

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