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Spatially defined oxygen gradients and vascular endothelial growth factor expression in an engineered 3D cell model

Minimally invasive measurement of oxygen levels associated with the development of hypoxia is important in tissue engineering and cancer therapeutics (radiotherapy and PDT). However little is known about the interdependence of matrix and cell density, and diffusion on oxygen consumption. Using novel engineered 3D compressed collagen constructs, in situ real-time oxygen monitoring was carried out with a calibrated fibre-optic probe. We showed that cell density is the critical factor controlling oxygen consumption rather than matrix density. The results of this study will have an important impact on the development of 3D models which potentially have wide applications for drug screening.