Vascular Tissue Engineering: Progress, Challenges, and Clinical Promise

H-H Greco Song; Rowza T Rumma; C Keith Ozaki; Elazer R Edelman; Christopher S Chen

doi:10.1016/j.stem.2018.02.009

Vascular Tissue Engineering: Progress, Challenges, and Clinical Promise

Cell Stem Cell. 2018 Mar 1;22(3):340-354. doi: 10.1016/j.stem.2018.02.009.

Authors

H-H Greco Song¹, Rowza T Rumma², C Keith Ozaki³, Elazer R Edelman⁴, Christopher S Chen⁵

Affiliations

¹ Harvard-MIT Program in Health Sciences and Technology, Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Biological Design Center, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
² Harvard-MIT Program in Health Sciences and Technology, Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
³ Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
⁴ Harvard-MIT Program in Health Sciences and Technology, Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
⁵ Biological Design Center, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].

Abstract

Although the clinical demand for bioengineered blood vessels continues to rise, current options for vascular conduits remain limited. The synergistic combination of emerging advances in tissue fabrication and stem cell engineering promises new strategies for engineering autologous blood vessels that recapitulate not only the mechanical properties of native vessels but also their biological function. Here we explore recent bioengineering advances in creating functional blood macro and microvessels, particularly featuring stem cells as a seed source. We also highlight progress in integrating engineered vascular tissues with the host after implantation as well as the exciting pre-clinical and clinical applications of this technology.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Biocompatible Materials / pharmacology
Blood Vessels / physiology*
Humans
Printing, Three-Dimensional
Prostheses and Implants
Stem Cells / cytology
Tissue Engineering / methods*

Substances

Biocompatible Materials

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Substances

Grants and funding