Affiliation:
1. Institute for Nanobiotechnology Johns Hopkins University Baltimore MD 21218 USA
2. Department of Biomedical Engineering Johns Hopkins University Baltimore MD 21218 USA
3. Department of Materials Science and Engineering Johns Hopkins University Baltimore MD 21218 USA
Abstract
AbstractMicrovessels, including arterioles, capillaries, and venules, play an important role in regulating blood flow, enabling nutrient and waste exchange, and facilitating immune surveillance. Due to their important roles in maintaining normal function in human tissues, a substantial effort has been devoted to developing tissue‐engineered models to study endothelium‐related biology and pathology. Various engineering strategies have been developed to recapitulate the structural, cellular, and molecular hallmarks of native human microvessels in vitro. In this review, recent progress in engineering approaches, key components, and culture platforms for tissue‐engineered human microvessel models is summarized. Then, tissue‐specific models, and the major applications of tissue‐engineered microvessels in development, disease modeling, drug screening and delivery, and vascularization in tissue engineering, are reviewed. Finally, future research directions for the field are discussed.
Funder
National Institutes of Health
National Science Foundation