One of the largest challenges facing the field of tissue engineering is the incorporation of a functional vasculature, allowing effective nourishment of graft tissue beyond diffusion length scales. Here, we demonstrate a methodology for inducing the robust self-assembly of endothelial cells into stable three-dimensional perfusable networks on millimeter and centimeter length scales. Utilizing broadly accessible cell strains and reagents, we have rigorously tested a state space of cell densities (0.5-2.0×106 cell/mL) and collagen gel densities (2-6 mg/mL) that result in robust vascular network formation. Further, over the range of culture conditions with which we observed robust network formation, we advanced image processing algorithms and quantitative metrics to assess network connectivity, coverage, tortuosity, lumenization, and vessel diameter. These data demonstrate that decreasing collagen density produced more connected networks with higher coverage. Finally, we demonstrated that this methodology results in the formation of perfusable networks, is extensible to arbitrary geometries and centimeter scales, and results in networks that remain stable for 21 days without the need for the co-culture of supporting cells. Given the robustness and accessibility, this system is ideal for studies of tissue-scale biology, as well as future studies on the formation and remodeling of larger engineered graft tissues.

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is an interdisciplinary, capstone, two-semester course that introduces Biomedical Engineering and Design students to the design of biomedical products. 13 The course is based on the Biodesign textbook by Yock et al.

(CMU) in Pittsburgh, PA. She received her B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Delaware in Newark, DE. She is an NSF GRFP fellow conducting her PhD research at CMU on tissue engineering gas exchange channels to fabricate biomimetic, artificial lung devices. Erica is a recipient of the 2020 American Society of Engineering Education WIED Mara H. Wasburn Early Engineering Educator Grant. Erica has served as a teaching assistant for BME senior design for two years, working under Dr. Conrad Zapanta. Her education research at CMU aims to provide students with a capstone design course that mimics the work dynamic between Biomedical Engineers and Industrial Designers in the medical device industry. She has served as president of CMU's Graduate Biomedical Engineering Society for one year and as president of an organization entitled, "CMU Women in BME" for two years.