@article{70a0c0fe1ed04bdfa2c3061584e7614b,
title = "Engineering vessel-like networks within multicellular fibrin-based constructs",
abstract = "Sufficient vascularization in engineered tissues can be achieved through coordinated application of improved biomaterial systems with proper cell types. In this study, we employed 3D fibrin gels alone or in combination with the synthetic poly(l-lactic acid) (PLLA)/polylactic-glycolic acid (PLGA) sponges to support in-vitro construct vascularization and to enhance neovascularization upon implantation. Two multicellular assays were embedded in these constructs: (a) co-culture of endothelial (EC) and fibroblast cells, and (b) a tri-culture combination of ECs, fibroblasts and tissue specific skeletal myoblast cells. In-vitro vessel network formation was examined under advanced confocal microscopy in various time points from cell seeding. Vessel network maturity levels and morphology were found to be highly regulated by fibrinogen concentrations in-vitro. Combination of PLLA/PLGA sponges with fibrin matrices provided added mechanical strength and featured highly mature vessels-like networks. Implantation studies revealed that the implanted ECs developed into 3D interconnected vessel-like networks in-vivo. The PLLA/PLGA scaffold proved to be a key stimulator of neovascularization and perfusion of implanted grafts. Our findings demonstrate that complex biomaterial platform involving fibrin and PLLA/PLGA synthetic scaffold provide a way to enhancing vascularization in-vitro and in-vivo.",
keywords = "Angiogenesis, Cell encapsulation, Co-culture, Endothelial cell, Fibrin, Scaffold",
author = "Ayelet Lesman and Jacob Koffler and Roee Atlas and Blinder, {Yaron J.} and Zvi Kam and Shulamit Levenberg",
note = "Funding Information: We would like to thank Prof. David Yaffe (Weizmann Institute, Faculty of Biology, Israel) for providing the C2 cell line. We would like to acknowledge Shirley Rachel Rochman for the graphic assistance, and Yehudit Posen for editing the manuscript. The research was funded by The Israeli Ministry of Industry & Trade, Nofar program and Omrix Biopharmaceuticals Ltd . ",
year = "2011",
month = nov,
doi = "10.1016/j.biomaterials.2011.07.003",
language = "אנגלית",
volume = "32",
pages = "7856--7869",
journal = "Biomaterials",
issn = "0142-9612",
publisher = "Elsevier Ltd.",
number = "31",
}