Perfused cell culturing systems and uses thereof

A system for culturing cells, comprising:

• (a) a cassette comprising a lid and a base, wherein the lid comprises a top channel inlet, a top channel outlet, a bottom channel inlet and a bottom channel outlet;
• (b) an insert in the cassette, wherein the insert is between the lid and the base, wherein the insert comprises a top layer having a top channel, a bottom layer having a bottom channel, and a cell culture platform having a top platform surface in contact with the top channel and a bottom platform surface in contact with the bottom channel, wherein the cell culture platform is selected from the group consisting of a vitrified membrane, a hydrated gel, a semi-permeable membrane, and a combination thereof, wherein the top channel is sealed by the lid and the top platform surface and connected with the top channel inlet and the top channel outlet, wherein a top flowing fluid moves to create a wall shear stress in the top channel of 0.25-75 dyne/cm2 through the top channel inlet, the top channel, and the top channel outlet;
• wherein the bottom channel is sealed by the base and the bottom platform surface, and connected with the bottom channel inlet and the bottom channel outlet, wherein a bottom flowing fluid moves to create a wall shear stress in the bottom channel of 0.25-75 dyne/cm2 through the bottom channel inlet, the bottom channel, and the bottom channel outlet, and
• (c) first cultured cells, wherein the first cultured cells are attached to the top platform surface and exposed directly to the top flowing fluid, are attached to the bottom platform surface and exposed directly to the bottom flowing fluid, or are in the cell culture platform and exposed indirectly to the top flowing fluid and indirectly to the bottom flowing fluid.