Cardiovascular Tissue Engineering and Regeneration: A Plead for Further Knowledge Convergence

Abstract

Cardiovascular tissue engineering and regeneration strive to provide long-term, effective solutions for a growing group of patients in need of myocardial repair, vascular (access) grafts, heart valves, and regeneration of organ microcirculation. In the past two decades, ongoing convergence of disciplines and multidisciplinary collaborations between cardiothoracic surgeons, cardiologists, bioengineers, material scientists, and cell biologists have resulted in better understanding of the problems at hand and novel regenerative approaches. As a side effect, however, the field has become strongly organized and differentiated around topical areas at risk of reinvention of technologies and repetition of approaches across the areas. A better integration of knowledge and technologies from the individual topical areas and regenerative approaches and technologies may pave the way toward faster and more effective treatments to cure the cardiovascular system. This review summarizes the evolution of research and regenerative approaches in the areas of myocardial regeneration, heart valve and vascular tissue engineering, and regeneration of microcirculations; and discusses previous and potential future integration of these individual areas and developed technologies for improved clinical impact. Finally, it provides a perspective on the further integration of research organization, knowledge implementation, and valorization as a contributor to advancing cardiovascular tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.

Advances in Injectable Hydrogel Strategies for Heart Failure Treatment

“…The latest trends in the design of tissue engineering scaffolds have focused on bionic materials to create appropriate chemical, mechanical and biological cues that imitate the native microenvironment. [ 59 ] Natural ECM materials, which completely retain the vascular system, ultrastructure and major ECM components after the removal of all cellular and genetic components of organs and tissues through physical, chemical and biological methods, may well become a new strategy for the treatment of damaged tissues. [ 60 ] Decellularized ECM (dECM) hydrogels can be sent to sites of tissue damage by minimally invasive injection, and the self‐assembly sol–gel transition occurs at physiological pH and temperature, which has greatly enhanced their clinical application.…”

Biomedical Application of Decellularized Scaffolds

“…But the availability of suitable artificial blood vessels is limited. Recently, decellularized blood vessels have been found to have good vascular properties. − …”

Celebrating 30 Years of Netherlands Society for Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering: Past, Present, and Future

“…Pleas from the field still call upon fellow scientists to join forces even further where possible. 11 Let this special issue be an inspiration for cross-disciplinary and cross-border collaborations in the ever-exciting field of Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering.…”