title: Bioengineered vascular constructs as living models for in vitro cardiovascular research.
abstract: Cardiovascular diseases represent the most common cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. In this review, we explore the potential of bioengineered vascular constructs as living models for in vitro cardiovascular research to advance the current knowledge of pathophysiological processes and support the development of clinical therapies. Bioengineered vascular constructs capable of recapitulating the cellular and mechanical environment of native vessels represent a valuable platform to study cellular interactions and signaling cascades, test drugs and medical devices under (patho)physiological conditions, with the additional potential benefit of reducing the number of animals required for preclinical testing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Tissue Engineering & Textile Implants, Applied Medical Engineering, Helmholtz Institute, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstraße 20, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Frederic
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wolf
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Pulmonology, Intensive Care and Vascular Medicine, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Felix
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vogt
authors.affiliation: Department of Tissue Engineering & Textile Implants, Applied Medical Engineering, Helmholtz Institute, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstraße 20, 52074 Aachen, Germany; Department of Cardiovascular Engineering, Institute of Applied Medical Engineering, Helmholtz Institute Aachen, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstraße 20, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Schmitz-Rode
authors.affiliation: Department of Tissue Engineering & Textile Implants, Applied Medical Engineering, Helmholtz Institute, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstraße 20, 52074 Aachen, Germany; Institut für Textiltechnik, RWTH Aachen University, Otto-Blumenthal-Str. 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany; Aachen-Maastricht Institute for Biobased Materials, Maastricht University at Chemelot Campus, Urmonderbaan 22, 6167 RD Geleen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: jockenhoevel@ame.rwth-aachen.de.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jockenhoevel
authors.affiliation: Department of Tissue Engineering & Textile Implants, Applied Medical Engineering, Helmholtz Institute, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstraße 20, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mela
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D035843:Biomedical Research; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases; D002319:Cardiovascular System / Q000473:pathology; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D004864:Equipment and Supplies; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D023822:Tissue Engineering