Towards organ printing: engineering an intra-organ branched vascular tree

作者：Richard P. Visconti, Vladimir A. Kasyanov, Carmine Gentile, Jing Zhang, Roger R. Markwald, Vladimir A. Mironov · 发表于：Expert Opinion on Biological Therapy · 年份：2010 · DOI：10.1517/14712590903563352 · 被引用次数：223 · 研究领域：3D Printing in Biomedical Research、Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine、Electrospun Nanofibers in Biomedical Applications

IMPORTANCE OF THE FIELD: Effective vascularization of thick three-dimensional engineered tissue constructs is a problem in tissue engineering. As in native organs, a tissue-engineered intra-organ vascular tree must be comprised of a network of hierarchically branched vascular segments. Despite this requirement, current tissue-engineering efforts are still focused predominantly on engineering either large-diameter macrovessels or microvascular networks. AREAS COVERED IN THIS REVIEW: We present the emerging concept of organ printing or robotic additive biofabrication of an intra-organ branched vascular tree, based on the ability of vascular tissue spheroids to undergo self-assembly. WHAT THE READER WILL GAIN: The feasibility and challenges of this robotic biofabrication approach to intra-organ vascularization for tissue engineering based on organ-printing technology using self-assembling vascular tissue spheroids including clinically relevantly vascular cell sources are analyzed. TAKE HOME MESSAGE: It is not possible to engineer 3D thick tissue or organ constructs without effective vascularization. An effective intra-organ vascular system cannot be built by the simple connection of large-diameter vessels and microvessels. Successful engineering of functional human organs suitable for surgical implantation will require concomitant engineering of a 'built in' intra-organ branched vascular system. Organ printing enables biofabrication of human organ constructs with a 'built in' in...