Endothelial Progenitor Cells for the Vascularization of Engineered Tissues

Area of Science:

• Tissue Engineering
• Regenerative Medicine
• Vascular Biology

Background:

• Self-assembled microvasculature using endothelial cells (ECs) and stromal cells aids engineered tissue perfusion and in vitro morphogenesis.
• Clinical translation of prevascularized constructs requires addressing the source of ECs, with endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) offering advantages like reduced antigenicity and broad differentiation potential.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review EPC vascular biology and the impact of tissue engineering parameters on EPC microvessel formation.
• To identify strategies for overcoming challenges in EPC identity, characterization, and coculture systems for vascularizing engineered tissues.
• To explore integrating EPCs with emerging technologies for creating functional, organotypic vascularized tissues.

Main Methods:

• Literature review summarizing EPC vascular biology.
• Analysis of tissue engineering design parameters (coculture, scaffold, media) influencing EPC microvessel formation.
• Discussion of emerging technologies for EPC integration.

Main Results:

• EPCs present a viable alternative EC source for tissue engineering due to their accessibility and differentiation capacity.
• Uncertainty in EPC identity, characterization, and optimal culture conditions remain significant barriers.
• Specific combinations of coculture, scaffolds, and media significantly influence EPC-derived microvessel formation.

Conclusions:

• Addressing EPC characterization and optimizing tissue engineering parameters are crucial for advancing EPC-based vascularization strategies.
• Further research integrating EPCs with novel technologies can lead to the development of functional, organotypic vascularized tissues for clinical applications.