Computer-aided design of microvasculature systems for use in vascular scaffold production

Abstract

In vitro biomedical engineering of intact, functional vascular networks, which include capillary structures, is a prerequisite for adequate vascular scaffold production. Capillary structures are necessary since they provide the elements and compounds for the growth, function and maintenance of 3D tissue structures. Computer-aided modeling of stereolithographic (STL) micro-computer tomographic (micro-CT) 3D models is a technique that enables us to mimic the design of vascular tree systems containing capillary beds, found in tissues. In our first paper (Mondy et al 2009 Tissue Eng. at press), using micro-CT, we studied the possibility of using vascular tissues to produce data capable of aiding the design of vascular tree scaffolding, which would help in the reverse engineering of a complete vascular tree system including capillary bed structures. In this paper, we used STL models of large datasets of computer-aided design (CAD) data of vascular structures which contained capillary structures that mimic those in the dermal layers of rabbit skin. Using CAD software we created from 3D STL models a bio-CAD design for the development of capillary-containing vascular tree scaffolding for skin. This method is designed to enhance a variety of therapeutic protocols including, but not limited to, organ and tissue repair, systemic disease mediation and cell/tissue transplantation therapy. Our successful approach to in vitro vasculogenesis will allow the bioengineering of various other types of 3D tissue structures, and as such greatly expands the potential applications of biomedical engineering technology into the fields of biomedical research and medicine.

3D bioprinting for engineering complex tissues

“…Bioprinting models, like models used in conventional rapid prototyping, are often converted to the STereoLithography (STL) file format as an intermediate between model and print path generation (Mironov et al 2009; Mondy et al 2009). These files contain accurate surface information of complex 3D geometries, and can be designed via graphic user interfaces, or created from clinical images, including those from Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Computed Tomography (CT) (Keriquel et al 2010; Arai et al 2011).…”

A Hybrid Bioprinting Approach for Scale-Up Tissue Fabrication

“…Bioprinting technology, on the other hand, currently does not allow multiscale tissue fabrication, where bifurcated vessels are required to be manufactured with capillaries to mimic natural vas cular anatomy. Although several researchers have investigated developing vascular trees using computer models [16], only a few attempts have been made toward fabricating bifurcated or branched channels [17]. Successful maturation toward functional mechanically integrated bifurcated blood vessel network is still a challenge.…”

Three-dimensional bio-printing

“…It has been reported that cardiac muscle tissue containing vessel-like structure was obtained from endothelial cells through tissue culture [31]. Fabrication of functional 3D tissues containing blood vessels is still a great challenge faced by 3D bio-printing [97].…”