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Published on: January 14, 2021
Biomimetic Approaches in Scaffold-Based Blood Vessel Tissue Engineering
Elisabetta Rosellini1, Cristiana Giordano1, Lorenzo Guidi1
1Department of Civil and Industrial Engineering, University of Pisa, Largo Lucio Lazzarino 1, 56122 Pisa, Italy.
Insights
Tissue engineering aims to create vascular grafts by mimicking the natural three-layer structure of blood vessels. Biomimetic approaches show promise in preventing blood clotting and improving clinical outcomes for cardiovascular disease treatments.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Regenerative Medicine
- Cardiovascular Engineering
Background:
- Cardiovascular diseases are a major global health concern, with atherosclerosis leading to conditions like myocardial infarction.
- Current treatments for coronary artery disease, such as coronary artery bypass surgery, face limitations due to graft availability and synthetic graft performance.
- Vascular tissue engineering offers a promising alternative for developing advanced vascular substitutes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide an updated review of vascular tissue engineering, focusing on biomimetic scaffold design and dynamic culture conditions.
- To highlight advancements in mimicking the native vascular wall's three-layer structure for improved graft function.
- To discuss innovative strategies for enhancing biomimicry in tissue-engineered vascular grafts.
Main Methods:
- Reviewing current literature on vascular tissue engineering and biomimetic approaches.
- Analyzing scaffold design, material innovation, and surface functionalization strategies.
- Examining the role of dynamic culture conditions and bioreactors in simulating physiological environments.
Main Results:
- Biomimetic strategies, particularly those emulating the three-layer vascular wall, can enhance long-term patency and clinical outcomes.
- Innovative scaffold materials and functionalization techniques are crucial for improving graft performance.
- Bioreactors that mimic physiological conditions are key to advancing vascular tissue engineering.
Conclusions:
- A multifaceted biomimetic approach is essential for successful vascular tissue engineering.
- Current biomimetic technologies show potential in preventing vascular occlusion and blood clotting in preclinical settings.
- Bridging the gap between laboratory innovation and clinical translation requires continued multidisciplinary research.
Abstract:
Cardiovascular diseases remain a leading cause of mortality globally, with atherosclerosis representing a significant pathological means, often leading to myocardial infarction. Coronary artery bypass surgery, a common procedure used to treat coronary artery disease, presents challenges due to the limited autologous tissue availability or the shortcomings of synthetic grafts. Consequently, there is a growing interest in tissue engineering approaches to develop vascular substitutes. This review offers an updated picture of the state of the art in vascular tissue engineering, emphasising the design of scaffolds and dynamic culture conditions following a biomimetic approach. By emulating native vessel properties and, in particular, by mimicking the three-layer structure of the vascular wall, tissue-engineered grafts can improve long-term patency and clinical outcomes. Furthermore, ongoing research focuses on enhancing biomimicry through innovative scaffold materials, surface functionalisation strategies, and the use of bioreactors mimicking the physiological microenvironment. Through a multidisciplinary lens, this review provides insight into the latest advancements and future directions of vascular tissue engineering, with particular reference to employing biomimicry to create systems capable of reproducing the structure-function relationships present in the arterial wall. Despite the existence of a gap between benchtop innovation and clinical translation, it appears that the biomimetic technologies developed to date demonstrate promising results in preventing vascular occlusion due to blood clotting under laboratory conditions and in preclinical studies. Therefore, a multifaceted biomimetic approach could represent a winning strategy to ensure the translation of vascular tissue engineering into clinical practice.
