Nanotechnology in vascular tissue engineering: from nanoscaffolding towards rapid vessel biofabrication

Trends Biotechnol. 2008 Jun;26(6):338-44. doi: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2008.03.001. Epub 2008 Apr 20.

Abstract

The existing methods of biofabrication for vascular tissue engineering are still bioreactor-based, extremely expensive, laborious and time consuming and, furthermore, not automated, which would be essential for an economically successful large-scale commercialization. The advances in nanotechnology can bring additional functionality to vascular scaffolds, optimize internal vascular graft surface and even help to direct the differentiation of stem cells into the vascular cell phenotype. The development of rapid nanotechnology-based methods of vascular tissue biofabrication represents one of most important recent technological breakthroughs in vascular tissue engineering because it dramatically accelerates vascular tissue assembly and, importantly, also eliminates the need for a bioreactor-based scaffold cellularization process.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biocompatible Materials / chemistry
  • Biomedical Engineering / methods*
  • Blood Vessels / metabolism
  • Cell Culture Techniques
  • Collagen / chemistry
  • Elastin / chemistry
  • Humans
  • Magnetics
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Nanostructures / chemistry
  • Nanotechnology / methods*
  • Tissue Engineering / methods*

Substances

  • Biocompatible Materials
  • Collagen
  • Elastin