Cardiovascular diseases are still the leading cause of death in developed countries. Revascularization procedures such as coronary artery and peripheral bypass grafts, as well as access surgery represent a 2$ billion market yearly for the US alone. Despite intense research over many decades, no clinically suitable, shelf-ready, synthetic, vascular, small-caliber graft exists. There is therefore still a quest for such a clinical vascular prosthesis for surgical revascularization procedures and access surgery. Many approaches have been tried and are currently under investigation with promising results. These range from acellular and cell-based, stable or bio-degradable, synthetic scaffolds to biological or decellularized grafts, not forgetting self-assembly technologies for in vitro or in vivo VTE. All these approaches can be further enhanced by functionalization, e.g. with growth factors and drug elution. This updatable book aims to cover all the relevant aspects of Vascular Tissue Engineering (VTE) and novel alternatives to develop vascular grafts for clinical applications. The chapters in this book cover different aspects of manufacturing scaffolds with various polymers, mechanical characteristics, degradation rates, decellularization techniques, cell sheet assembly, 3-D printing and autologous mandril-based VTE. All the necessary in vitro tests such as biocompatibility and thrombogenicity are reviewed. Pre-clinical assessment of in vivo experimental models include patency, compliance, intimal hyperplasia, inflammatory reaction, cellular ingrowth and remodeling. Finally, early clinical trials will be periodically updated regarding results, regulatory aspects and post-marketing quality assessment. Furthermore, the reader should get an insight into various approaches, technologies and methods to better understand the complexity of blood surface and cell interactions in VTE. Translational research has yielded early human applications clearly showing the enormous need of research in the field to provide better solutions for our patients and this continuously updated book will hopefully become a reference in the field for life sciences.

This book describes the fundamental biology and mechanics of the vasculature and examines how this knowledge has underpinned the development of new clinical modalities, including endovascular treatment and vascularization of reconstructed tissue for regenerative medicine. Vascular engineering is a multidisciplinary field integrating vascular biology, hemodynamics, biomechanics, tissue engineering, and medicine. Each chapter offers insights into the dynamics of the circulatory system and explains how the impact of related disease conditions — atherosclerosis, hypertension, myocardial ischemia, and cerebral infarction — has generated a focus on developing expertise to both maintain and treat the vascular system. As a comprehensive book in this expanding area, Vascular Engineering serves as a valuable resource for clinicians as well as academics and professionals working in biophysics, biomedical engineering, and nano and microrheology. Graduate students in these subject areas will also find this volume insightful.

New updated edition first published with Cambridge University Press. This new edition includes 29 chapters on topics as diverse as pathophysiology of atherosclerosis, vascular haemodynamics, haemostasis, thrombophilia and post-amputation pain syndromes.

This volume explores the latest techniques used to study the field of tissue engineered vascular grafts (TEVGs). The chapters in this book cover a wide array of topics such as deriving vascular cells from monocytes and induced pluripotent stem cells; engineering vascular grafts using various biomaterials and stem cells, stem cell-derived, or primary vascular cells; biomaterial modification by anticoagulation molecules; vascular bioengineering technologies such as 3D bioprinting; and fabrication of TEVGs with different geometry and multiphase structures. This book also features protocols for grafting and evaluation of vascular grafts in animal models, vascular imaging in animals, and the quantification of blood vessel permeability. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Cutting-edge and practical, Vascular Tissue Engineering: Methods and Protocols is a valuable resource for biomedical engineers, cell biologists, vascular surgeons, doctors, and nurses.

This reference work presents the basic principles of angiogenesis induction, including the roles of signaling factors such as hypoxia-inducible factors, biophysical stimulation and angiogenic cells. The book also covers lymphogenesis induction. Both the established fundamentals in the field as well as new trends in the vascularization of engineered tissues are discussed. These include pre-vascularization strategies using preparation of channeled scaffolds and preparation of decellularized blood vessel trees, approaches to inducing formation of microvasculature and approaches to inducing the growth of vascular networks. The authors expand on these concepts with current studies of dual-level approaches to engineer vascularized tissue composites. The book concludes with a discussion of current clinical approaches and the use of vascular grafts in the context of providing clinical practice with new tissue engineering strategies.

Frontiers in Tissue Engineering is a carefully edited compilation of state-of-the-art contributions from an international authorship of experts in the diverse subjects that make up tissue engineering. A broad representation of the medical, scientific, industrial and regulatory community is detailed in the book. The work is an authoritative and comprehensive reference source for scientists and clinicians working in this emerging field. The book is divided into three parts: fundamentals and methods of tissue engineering, tissue engineering applied to specialised tissues, and tissue engineering applied to organs. The text offers many novel approaches, including a detailed coverage of cell-tissue interactions at cellular and molecular levels; cell-tissue surface, biochemical, and mechanical environments; biomaterials; engineering design; tissue-organ function; new approaches to tissue-organ regeneration and replacement of function; ethical considerations of tissue engineering; and government regulation of tissue-engineered products.

Using this book, the reader will gain a good foundation to the field complemented with a broad overview of characterisation, microfabrication and applications.