Microchannels in Development, Survival, and Vascularisation of Tissue Analogues for Regenerative Medicine

Abstract

Microchannels are simple, perfusable architectural features engineered into biomaterials to promote mass transport of solutes to cells, effective cell seeding and compartmentalisation for tissue engineering applications, control over spatiotemporal distribution of molecules and ligands, and survival, integration, and vascularisation of engineered tissue analogues in vivo. Advances in biofabrication have led to better control over microchannel fabrication in 3D scaffolds, enabling sophisticated designs that drive the development of complex tissue structures. This review addresses the importance of microchannel structures in biomaterial design and regenerative medicine, and discusses their function, fabrication methods, and proposed mechanisms underlying their effects.

Keywords: biofabrication; biomaterials; microchannels; regenerative medicine; tissue engineering; vascularisation.