Vascularization Regenerative Medicine and Tissue Engineering

A Complex and Growing Field

The study of vascularization in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine (TERM) and its applications is an emerging field that could revolutionize medical approaches for organ and tissue replacement, reconstruction, and regeneration.

Designed specifically for researchers in TERM fields, Vascularization: Regenerative Medicine and Tissue Engineering provides a broad overview of vascularization in TERM applications. This text summarizes research in several areas, and includes contributions from leading experts in the field. It defines the difficulties associated with multicellular processes in vascularization and cell-source issues. It presents advanced biomaterial design strategies for control of vascular network formation and in silico models designed to provide insight not possible in experimental systems. It also examines imaging methods that are critical to understanding vascularization in engineered tissues, and addresses vascularization issues within the context of specific tissue applications.

This text is divided into three parts; the first section focuses on the basics of vascularization. The second section provides general approaches for promoting vascularization. The final section presents tissue and organ-specific aspects of vascularization in regenerative medicine.

Presents Areas of Substantial Clinical and Societal Impact

The material contains research and science on the process of vessel assembly with an emphasis on methods for controlling the process for therapeutic applications. It describes the tissue and organ-specific aspects of vascularization in regenerative medicine, and refers to areas such as bone tissue engineering, vascularization of encapsulated cells, adipose tissue, bone and muscle engineering. It also provides a mechanistic understanding of the process and presentation of experimental and computational approaches that facilitate the study of vascular assembly, and includes enabling technologies such as nanotechnology, drug delivery, stem cells, microfluidics, and biomaterial design that are optimized for supporting the formation of extensive vascular networks in regenerative medicine.

A guide for researchers developing new methods for modulating vessel assembly, this text can also be used by senior undergraduate and graduate students taking courses focused on TERM.

Part 1 Cells. Endothelial Progenitor Cells: Current Status. Role of Pericytes in Tissue Engineering. Mesenchymal Support Cells in the Assembly of Functional Vessel Networks. Adipose Stromal Vascular Fraction Cells for Vascularization of Engineered Tissues. Part 2 Biomaterials. Vascular Development and Morphogenesis in Biomaterials. Biophysical Mechanisms That Govern the Vascularization of Microfluidic Scaffolds. Engineered In Vitro Systems of the Microcirculation. Microfabrication of Three-Dimensional Vascular Structures. Gradient Scaffolds for Vascularized Tissue Formation. Part 3 Models. Modeling Vascularization in Tissue Engineering Scaffolds. Multiscale Modeling of Angiogenesis. Part 4 Imaging. In Vivo Imaging Methods for the Assessment of Angiogenesis: Clinical and Experimental Applications. Part 5 Vascularized Tissues. In Vivo Techniques and Strategies for Enhanced Vascularization of Engineered Bone. Vascularization of Encapsulated Cells. Vascularization of Muscle. Vascularization in Engineered Adipose Tissue. In Vivo Vascularization for Large-Volume Soft Tissue Engineering. Index.

Eric Michael Brey, PhD is a professor of biomedical engineering at the Illinois Institute of Technology and a research health scientist at the Hines Veterans Administration Hospital. He received BS and MEng degrees in chemical engineering from the University of Louisville, and a PhD in chemical engineering from Rice University. Dr. Brey’s research is focused on the areas of tissue engineering, vascularization, and biomaterials. Specifically, his group has developed and investigated new biomaterial and surgical approaches to control vessel assembly. His research has resulted in over 85 peer-reviewed publications, nine book chapters, and over 200 presentations and invited talks.