title: Vascularization strategies of engineered tissues and their application in cardiac regeneration.
abstract: The primary function of vascular networks is to transport blood and deliver oxygen and nutrients to tissues, which occurs at the interface of the microvasculature. Therefore, the formation of the vessels at the microcirculatory level, or angiogenesis, is critical for tissue regeneration and repair. Current strategies for vascularization of engineered tissues have incorporated multi-disciplinary approaches including engineered biomaterials, cells and angiogenic factors. Pre-vascularization of scaffolds composed of native matrix, synthetic polymers, or other biological materials can be achieved through the use of single cells in mono or co-culture, in combination or not with angiogenic factors or by the use of isolated vessels. The advance of these methods, together with a growing understanding of the biology behind vascularization, has facilitated the development of vascularization strategies for engineered tissues with therapeutic potential for tissue regeneration and repair. Here, we review the different cell-based strategies utilized to pre-vascularize engineered tissues and in making more complex vascularized cardiac tissues for regenerative medicine applications.
authors.affiliation: University Health Network, Toronto General Research Institute, 101 College St., Canada.
authors.forename: Xuetao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: University Health Network, Toronto General Research Institute, 101 College St., Canada; Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Toronto, Canada.
authors.forename: Wafa
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Altalhi
authors.affiliation: University Health Network, Toronto General Research Institute, 101 College St., Canada; Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Canada; Heart & Stroke/Richard Lewar Centre of Excellence, University of Toronto, Canada. Electronic address: sara.vasconcelos@utoronto.ca.
authors.forename: Sara S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Nunes
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D001705:Bioprosthesis; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology; D006321:Heart / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000502:physiology; D055806:Microvessels / Q000502:physiology; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000166:cytology; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic; D012038:Regeneration; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials
keywords: Angiogenesis; Cardiac regeneration; Cardiomyocytes; Endothelial cells; Stem cells; Tissue engineering; Vascularization; Vessels