Fig 2: Analysis of the STRING protein interaction network and its functional interpretation cytokines SDF-1, LIF, VEGF, bFGF, HGF, and SCGF-β. (a) Focus on the relationship of VEGF with SDF-1a, bFGF, and HGF only when these are mentioned together in PubMed abstracts. Note that LIF is mentioned in PubMed abstracts in conjunction with SDF-1a only. VEGF and LIF are associated with PD-L1 only through SDF-1a, bFGF, and HGF, but never directly. (b) The Biological Process Gene Ontology enrichment diagram confirms the functional architecture of the network.

Fig 3: Design and assembly of a microfluidic platform supporting independently perfusable blood and lymphatic microvascular networks. (A) Exploded schematic of the multi-layer, tape-based microfluidic assembly. (B) Top-down diagram of the device during gel casting, showing the placement of 250 μm needles used to mold parent channels linking media reservoirs to microvascular networks. (C) Expanded schematic of the sequential casting process used to establish spatially sequestered but functionally adjacent microvascular compartments. Endothelial cells and fibroblasts are suspended in fibrin and cast into separate regions to form a blood compartment (BECs + NHLFs, magenta) and a lymphatic compartment (LECs + NHLFs, green), separated by a thin acellular fibrin interface (blue). (D) Top-down view of the complete chip showing the casted gel regions and corresponding media reservoirs. Inset: conceptual diagram of the microvascular interface, depicting the formation of “circulatory” blood microvasculature (magenta) and blind-ended lymphatic microvasculature (green) extending from their respective parent channels. (E) Culture timeline and representative confocal images of microvascular morphogenesis. Devices were cultured for 5 days on a rocker with daily media changes of EGM2-MV supplemented with VEGFA (25 ng mL−1), VEGFC (1 ng mL−1), S1P (500 nM), and bFGF (25 ng mL−1). Images show the self-assembly of GFP-BEC networks (magenta, anti-GFP) and LEC networks (green, anti-podoplanin) at days 1, 3, and 5. Dashed lines indicate the position and cross-section of the perfusable parent channels defined by needle removal. Scale bar: 300 μm.