Engineered In Vitro Systems of the Microcirculation

Although the microcirculation refers to the smallest blood vessels in the body, its contribution to dening microenvironmental conditions in tissues is anything but small. Serving as the intermediate between the larger vessels of the arterial and venous circulation and the tissues to which it delivers blood and nutrients, the microcirculation is responsible for meeting the metabolic demands of the tissues. Impairments or dysfunction in the microcirculation can lead to and propagate pathologies, including cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes mellitus.