# TruD technology for the study of epi- and endothelial tubes in vitro

## TL;DR

TruD is a simple, low-cost method for creating tubes in the lab to study how cells behave in tube-like structures.

## Contribution

The novel contribution is a modular, easy-to-use 3D printing-based system for generating tubes in vitro for cell biology studies.

## Key findings

- TruD technology allows tubes to be embedded in ECM with accessible lumens.
- The modular design supports complex tube arrangements and flow experiments.
- It enables replicable molecular cell biology experiments under multiple conditions.

## Abstract

Beyond the smallest organisms, animals rely on tubes to transport cells, oxygen, nutrients, waste products, and a great variety of secretions. The cardiovascular system, lungs, gastrointestinal and genitourinary tracts, as well as major exocrine glands, are all composed of tubes. Paradoxically, despite their ubiquitous importance, most existing devices designed to study tubes are relatively complex to manufacture and/or utilize. The present work describes a simple method for generating tubes in vitro using nothing more than a low-cost 3D printer along with general lab supplies. The technology is termed "TruD", an acronym for true dimensional. Using this technology, it is readily feasible to cast tubes embedded in ECM with easy access to the lumen. The design is modular to permit more complex tube arrangements and to sustain flow. Importantly, by virtue of its simplicity, TruD technology enables typical molecular cell biology experiments where multiple conditions are assayed in replicate.