The neovascularization of three-dimensional voluminous tissues, such as bone, represents an important challenge in tissue engineering applications. The formation of a preformed vascular plexus could maintain cell viability and promote vascularization after transplantation. We have developed a three-dimensional spheroidal coculture system consisting of human primary endothelial cells and human primary osteoblasts (hOBs) to improve angiogenesis in bone tissue engineering applications. In this study, we investigated the survival and vascularization of the engineered implants in vivo. Endothelial cell spheroids were cocultured with hOBs in fibrin and seeded into scaffolds consisting of processed bovine cancellous bone (PBCB). The cell-seeded scaffolds were evaluated for their angiogenic potential in two different in vivo assays: the chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) model and the severe combined immunodeficiency disorder (SCID) mouse model. In both assays, the development of a complex three-dimensional network of perfused human neovessels could be detected. After subcutaneous implantation into immunodeficient mice, the newly formed human vasculature was stabilized by the recruitment of murine smooth muscle α-actin-positive mural cells and anastomoses with the mouse vasculature. We conclude that this endothelial cell spheroid system can be used to create a network of functional perfused blood vessels in vivo. The finding that this process takes place with high efficacy in the presence of co-implanted primary osteoblasts and in an osteoconductive environment provided by the PBCB scaffold, suggests that this system may be suitable for improving vascularization in bone tissue engineering.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Copyright © 2025 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.