Abstract
This review is divided into two interconnected parts, namely a biological and a chemical one. The focus of the first part is on the biological background for constructing tissue-engineered vascular grafts to promote vascular healing. Various cell types, such as embryonic, mesenchymal and induced pluripotent stem cells, progenitor cells and endothelial- and smooth muscle cells will be discussed with respect to their specific markers. The in vitro and in vivo models and their potential to treat vascular diseases are also introduced. The chemical part focuses on strategies using either artificial or natural polymers for scaffold fabrication, including decellularized cardiovascular tissue. An overview will be given on scaffold fabrication including conventional methods and nanotechnologies. Special attention is given to 3D network formation via different chemical and physical cross-linking methods. In particular, electron beam treatment is introduced as a method to combine 3D network formation and surface modification. The review includes recently published scientific data and patents which have been registered within the last decade.
Highlights
This review summarizes original articles and patents from the last decade dealing with artificial replacements for damaged vessels with respect to tissue engineering methods and reflects the rising interest in this specific subject (Figure 1A)
mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), which belong to the group of adult stem cells, are multipotent and represent an interesting source for the use on vascular grafts since they can be differentiated in the desired cell types
Since no expression of von-Willebrand factor and smooth myosin could be detected, these findings indicate a GBM-dependent differentiation of hMSC into pericyte-like cells, rather than into endothelial or smooth muscle cells
Summary
This review summarizes original articles and patents from the last decade dealing with artificial replacements for damaged vessels with respect to tissue engineering methods and reflects the rising interest in this specific subject (Figure 1A). Due to the limited availability of primary tissue cells, stem cells are of major interest for usage in grafts to promote vascular healing This is mirrored in the publications and patents of the last decade (Figure 1B,C). MSCs, which belong to the group of adult stem cells, are multipotent and represent an interesting source for the use on vascular grafts since they can be differentiated in the desired cell types. Even though the best cell type for vascular grafts and other clinical applications is still unclear, more than 3000 clinical trials have been applied so far utilizing stem cells to treat various diseases [6] Most of these treatments are still in phase I or phase II, and most of them focus on cancer (>2500), and not tissue engineering but they provide some new insight and improvement for regenerative approaches. Addressing key molecules which regulate and determine stem cell fate is vital to improve above mentioned poor knowledge on what happens in tissue regeneration approaches with these cells and will be summarized and discussed in this review
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