title: Strategies for vascularization of polymer scaffolds.
abstract: Biocompatible, degradable polymer scaffolds combined with cells or biological signals are being investigated as alternatives to traditional options for tissue reconstruction and transplantation. These approaches are already in clinical use as engineered tissues that enhance wound healing and skin regeneration. The continued enhancement of these material strategies is highly dependent on the ability to promote rapid and stable neovascularization (new blood vessel formation) within the scaffold. Whereas neovascularization therapies have shown some promise for the treatment of ischemic tissues, vascularization of polymer scaffolds in tissue engineering strategies provides a unique challenge owing to the volume and the complexity of the tissues targeted. In this article, we examine recent advances in research focused on promoting neovascularization in polymer scaffolds for tissue engineering applications. These approaches include the use of growth factors, cells, and novel surgical approaches to both enhance and control the nature of the vascular networks formed. The continued development of these approaches may lead to new tissue engineering strategies for the generation of skin and other tissues or organs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pritzker Institute of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL 60616, USA.
authors.forename: Georgia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Papavasiliou
authors.forename: Ming-Huei
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Eric M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Brey
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D006801:Humans; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic; D011108:Polymers; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D011108:Polymers