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Mechanically Tunable Biofabricated Channels Enable Mimicking Arterial Pulsatility and Dynamic Tissue Actuation
Cécile Bosmans1, Malin Becker1, Liliana S Moreira Teixeira2
1Leijten Lab Department of BioEngineering TechMed Centre Faculty of Science and Technology University of Twente Enschede 7522 NB Netherlands.
Small Science
|September 8, 2025
Summary
Researchers developed a tunable elastic hydrogel to mimic dynamic blood vessel behavior. This innovation allows for controlled vessel dilation, impacting mechanotransduction and compound penetration, crucial for understanding tissue homeostasis and disease.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Engineering
- Vascular Tissue Engineering
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Dynamic alteration of blood vessel geometry is crucial for circulatory system function.
- Existing tissue engineering and Organ-on-Chip models primarily focus on structure, neglecting the dynamic mechanical behavior of arteries.
- Native pulsatile blood flow and arterial deformation are vital for cellular and tissue homeostasis and disease progression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a tunable elastic hydrogel capable of mimicking the dynamic behavior of native arterial vessels.
- To investigate the influence of vessel dilation on shear stresses and tissue mechanotransduction under pulsatile flow.
- To explore the impact of dynamic deformation on compound penetration and model vascular diseases.
Main Methods:
- Development of a tunable elastic hydrogel from tyramine-conjugated alginate.
- Fabrication of casted and 3D bioprinted vascular channels.
- Application of physiologically relevant pulsatile flow to induce controlled vessel dilation.
- Investigation of shear stress, mechanodeformation, and compound penetration rates.
- Spatially controlled stiffening to model vascular pathologies.
Main Results:
- The developed hydrogel enables controlled, reversible dilation of engineered vascular channels under pulsatile flow.
- Vessel dilation significantly influences shear stresses and allows for hydrodynamic mechanodeformation and stimulation of engineered tissues.
- Pulsatile flow-induced deformation alters the penetration rates of compounds into surrounding tissues.
- Spatially controlled stiffening successfully models conditions like stenosis and aneurysm.
Conclusions:
- The tunable elastic hydrogel provides a platform for replicating the dynamic mechanical properties of native arteries.
- This approach enhances the physiological relevance of engineered tissues and Organ-on-Chip models.
- Understanding dynamic vascular mechanics is critical for advancing tissue engineering, drug delivery, and disease modeling.
