Hydrogel bioprinted microchannel networks for vascularization of tissue engineering constructs.

ABSTRACT: Vascularization remains a critical challenge in tissue engineering. The development of vascular networks within densely populated and metabolically functional tissues facilitate transport of nutrients and removal of waste products, thus preserving cellular viability over a long period of time. Despite tremendous progress in fabricating complex tissue constructs in the past few years, approaches for controlled vascularization within hydrogel based engineered tissue constructs have remained limited. Here, we report a three dimensional (3D) micromolding technique utilizing bioprinted agarose template fibers to fabricate microchannel networks with various architectural features within photocrosslinkable hydrogel constructs. Using the proposed approach, we were able to successfully embed functi

SUBMITTER: Bertassoni LE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4201051 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature