The two dominant approaches to vascularization of engineered tissues-angiogenesis and vasculogenesis-require several days to generate perfusion in implanted constructs. This proposed R03 pilot study seeks to develop a third approach, in which microsurgical anastomosis of a prevascularized microfluidic tissue to host vessels provides an immediate, physical route to perfusion. This work will implant endothelialized microfluidic collagen- and fibrin-based tissues using the rat femoral artery and vein as recipients, and will analyze the maintenance of perfusion and tissue viability in the construct. The constructs will be densely seeded with adipocytes to model soft tissue replacements. This proof-of-principle study is an important requisite step before such a physical strategy for vascularization can realize its potential as an alternative to angiogenesis and vasculogenesis. This work will provide a broad enabling tool for generating vascularized tissues and a concrete path to engineering vascularized adipose tissue for treatment of large soft tissue defects, as is often seen after tumor resection or major trauma.

Public Health Relevance

Reconstructing a large tissue defect (e.g., after tumor resection or major trauma) requires the ability to graft and sustain a large living tissue at the defect site. The proposed work will test a new approach to tissue reconstruction, in which engineered tissues that contain functional vessels are surgically linked with host vessels to provide immediate blood flow. This approach has the potential to create clinically relevant tissue volumes that can be implanted without loss of viability.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB)
Type
Small Research Grants (R03)
Project #
5R03EB018851-02
Application #
8932002
Study Section
Biomaterials and Biointerfaces Study Section (BMBI)
Program Officer
Hunziker, Rosemarie
Project Start
2014-09-23
Project End
2017-06-30
Budget Start
2015-07-01
Budget End
2017-06-30
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2015
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Boston University
Department
Engineering (All Types)
Type
Biomed Engr/Col Engr/Engr Sta
DUNS #
049435266
City
Boston
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
Li, Xuanyue; Xia, Jingyi; Nicolescu, Calin T et al. (2018) Engineering of microscale vascularized fat that responds to perfusion with lipoactive hormones. Biofabrication 11:014101
Li, Xuanyue; Xu, Jing; Nicolescu, Calin T et al. (2017) Generation, Endothelialization, and Microsurgical Suture Anastomosis of Strong 1-mm-Diameter Collagen Tubes. Tissue Eng Part A 23:335-344