New way of capillary formation in bioengineering found in the United States

MIT scientists say they have found a way to induce cells to form parallel tubular structuresThis tubular structure is expected to be used as a bioengineered microvascular transplant into human tissuesuch as kidneys, livers, atrial or other organs that require a large number of arterial blood vessels to input nutrients into cells and take waste outThe focus of the study was on arterial vascular tissue, which includes the finest blood vessels ——— capillaries in the bodyIn blood circulation, capillaries play a very important roleScientists have developed a nanomaterial material that acts like a template that allows cells to grow in a specific direction under artificial control into capillariesThe study was published online in the journal Advanced MaterialsTo develop the template, the scientists used Draper Labs' microstructure manufacturing equipmentTypically, microstructure manufacturing equipment is used to manufacture microscale devicesThis time, MIT scientists used it to create nano-scale shapes with wrinkles and grooves on silicon's elastic substrates, which guide cell growthThe study's lead author, Christophe Bettinger, a master's degree in materials science and engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, said cells were able to "feel" patterns on the silicon elastic substrate and extend in the direction of pattern groovesThis cell, which grows along a trench, is present in endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in the circulating bloodIt can not only extend the growth in the direction of the groove, but also be arranged according to the grooveThe result is a multicellular structure with clear boundaries, also known as band structuresWhen the band structure was formed, the scientists applied a commonly used gel on it to induce cells to form three-dimensional tubes, the bioengineered capillaries that scientists expect to direct to generate and arrangeBecause endothelial progenitor cells are a rather immature cell, scientists believe the cell is the best combination with the way it was developedIn earlier studies, the scientists used other cells, including epithelial cells, but did not obtain the desired band structureUsing the technology of growing tissue by design pattern, scientists were able to control and eventually obtain useful capillary tissue to a greater extent According to Bettinger, the new approach eliminates the blindness of bioengineering tissue growth Next, scientists will transplant the resulting capillaries into the organs of living animals in an attempt to fuse the capillaries with the organs