Vascularization Methods for Tissue Engineers

ABSTRACT

Tissue engineering is limited by our inability to adequately vascularize tissues post implantation because all tissue-engineered substitutes (with the exception of cornea and cartilage) require a vascular network to provide the nutrient and oxygen supply needed for their survival. This review gives a brief overview of the processes and factors involved in the vascularization and angiogenesis and summarizes the different strategies to overcome the issue of slow vascularization and angiogenesis in a range of tissue-engineered substitutes. Moreover, we will announce some potential future plans.