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Preparation and Endothelialization of Multi-level Vessel-like Network in Enzymated Gelatin Scaffolds

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Abstract

Loss of function of large tissues is an urgent clinical problem. Although the artificial microfluidic network fabricated in large tissue- engineered constructs has great promise, it is still difficult to develop an efficient vessel-like design to meet the requirements of the biomimetic vascular network for tissue engineering applications. In this study, we used a facile approach to fabricate a branched and multi-level vessel-like network in a large muscle scaffolds by combining stereolithography (SL) technology and enzymatic crosslinking mechanism. The morphology of microchannel cross-sections was characterized using micro-computed tomography. The square cross-sections were gradually changed to a seamless circular microfluidic network, which is similar to the natural blood vessel. In the different micro-channels, the velocity greatly affected the attachment and spread of Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cell (HUVEC)-Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP). Our study demonstrated that the branched and multi-level microchannel network simulates biomimetic microenvironments to promote endothelialization. The gelatin scaffolds in the circular vessel-like networks will likely support myoblast and surrounding tissue for clinical use.

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Acknowledgment

This work was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 51375371) and the High-Tech Projects of China (Grant Nos. 2015AA020303 and 2015AA042503).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Mechanical Engineering, Xi’an University of Science and Technology, Xi’an, 710054, China

    Guirong Dong, Laixia Yang & Chao Xu

  2. Faculty of Higher Vocational and Technical Education, Xi’an University of Technology, Xi’an, 710082, China

    Guirong Dong

  3. State Key Laboratory for Manufacturing Systems Engineering, Xi’an Jiao Tong University, Xi’an, 710049, China

    Qin Lian, Wei Mao & Shiyang Liu

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  1. Guirong Dong
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  2. Qin Lian
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Correspondence to Qin Lian.

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Dong, G., Lian, Q., Yang, L. et al. Preparation and Endothelialization of Multi-level Vessel-like Network in Enzymated Gelatin Scaffolds. J Bionic Eng 15, 673–681 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42235-018-0055-3

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