Vasculogenesis and Angiogenesis in Modular Collagen-Fibrin Microtissues.

ABSTRACT: The process of new blood vessel formation is critical in tissue development, remodeling and regeneration. Modular tissue engineering approaches have been developed to enable the bottom-up assembly of more complex tissues, including vascular networks. In this study, collagen-fibrin composite microbeads (100-300 μm in diameter) were fabricated using a water-in-oil emulsion technique. Human endothelial cells and human fibroblasts were embedded directly in the microbead matrix at the time of fabrication. Microbead populations were characterized and cultured for 14 days either as free-floating populations or embedded in a surrounding fibrin gel. The collagen-fibrin matrix efficiently entrapped cells and supported their viability and spreading. By 7 days in culture, endothelial cell networks wer

SUBMITTER: Peterson AW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4145346 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature