title: Vascularization in bone tissue engineering: physiology, current strategies, major hurdles and future challenges.
abstract: The lack of a functional vascular supply has, to a large extent, hampered the whole range of clinical applications of 'successful' laboratory-based bone tissue engineering strategies. To the present, grafts have been dependent on post-implant vascularization, which jeopardizes graft integration and often leads to its failure. For this reason, the development of strategies that could effectively induce the establishment of a microcirculation in the engineered constructs has become a major goal for the tissue engineering research community. This review addresses the role and importance of the development of a vascular network in bone tissue engineering and provides an overview of the most up to date research efforts to develop such a network.
authors.affiliation: 3B's Research Group - Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, AvePark, 4806-909 Taipas, Guimarães, Portugal. marina@dep.uminho.pt
authors.forename: Marina I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: Rui L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Reis
mesh_terms: D043925:Angiogenesis Inducing Agents / Q000378:metabolism; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000098:blood supply*; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000502:physiology*; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000502:physiology*; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D010012:Osteogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D043925:Angiogenesis Inducing Agents