Abstract

Biofabrication of Self-Organizing Vascular Networks

Jeroen Rouwkema, Associate Professor, University of Twente

Engineered tissues offer a great promise as an alternative for donor tissues, for which the supply is not meeting the demands. However, currently the clinical application of engineered tissues is hampered. The integration of engineered tissues after implantation is limited due to the lack of a vascular network.

In order to achieve multiscale organized vascular networks within engineered tissues, we are developing a 3D embedded bio-printing approach to spatially control the presence of vascular cells within tissue analogues. This can be seen as a starting situation which will remodel and mature over time. To further guide the organization of the vascular network over multiple scales, both chemical and mechanical cues are included. With this approach, our aim is to control tissue remodeling and maturation, resulting in a vascular network that resembles a vascular tree.