3D biomimetic environment enabling ex utero trophoblast invasion and co-culture of embryos and somatic cells

The first direct contact between the embryo and the mother is established during implantation. This process is inaccessible for direct studies as the implanting em-bryo is concealed by the maternal tissues. Here, we present a protocol for estab-lishing a 3D biomimetic environment based on synthetic hydrogels which harbor key biomechanical properties of the uterine stroma. We describe steps for isolating and culturing embryos in PEG/DexMA hydrogel. We then detail the co-culture of embryos and endothelial cells in a microfluidic device. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Govindasamy et al. (2021)1 and Ozguldez et al. (2023).2