Vasculogenic potential evaluation of bottom-up, PCL scaffolds guiding early angiogenesis in tissue regeneration.
Vascularization is a key factor in the successful integration of tissue engineered (TE) grafts inside the host body. Biological functions of the newly formed tissue depend, in fact, on a reliable and fast spread of the vascular network inside the scaffold. In this study, we propose a technique for evaluating vascularization in TE constructs assembled by a bottom-up approach. The rational, ordered assembly of building blocks (BBs) into a 3D scaffold can improve vessel penetration, and-unlike most current technologies-is compatible with the insertion of different elements that can be designed independently (e.g. structural units, growth factor depots etc.). Poly(ε-caprolactone) scaffolds composed of orderly and randomly assembled sintered microspheres were used to assess the degree of vascularization in a pilot in vivo study. Scaffolds were implanted in a rat subcutaneous pocket model, and retrieved after 7 days. We introduce three quantitative factors as a measure of vascularization: the total percentage of vascularization, the vessels diameter distribution and the vascular penetration depth. These parameters were derived by image analysis of microcomputed tomographic scans of biological specimens perfused with a radiopaque polymer. The outcome of this study suggests that the rational assembly of BBs helps the onset and organization of a fully functional vascular network.
Center for Advanced Biomaterials for Health Care, IIT@CRIB, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 80125, Naples, Italy. l.rossi@unina.it.
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Rossi
Center for Advanced Biomaterials for Health Care, IIT@CRIB, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 80125, Naples, Italy.
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Attanasio
Center for Advanced Biomaterials for Health Care, IIT@CRIB, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 80125, Naples, Italy.
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Vilardi
Center for Advanced Biomaterials for Health Care, IIT@CRIB, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 80125, Naples, Italy.|Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Napoli Federico II, Naples, Italy.
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De Gregorio
Center for Advanced Biomaterials for Health Care, IIT@CRIB, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 80125, Naples, Italy.
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Netti
D000818:Animals; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000502:physiology; D048091:Guided Tissue Regeneration; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000502:physiology*; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry*; D051381:Rats; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds
D011091:Polyesters; C016240:polycaprolactone