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Tissue Engineering pp 153–166Cite as

In Vitro Vascularization of Human Connective Microtissues

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Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Medicine™ ((MIMM,volume 140))

Summary

Vascularization is one of the most central processes enabling multicellular life. Owing to the complexity of vascularization regulatory networks, minor control imbalances often have severe pathologic consequences ranging from ischemic diseases to cancer. Tissue engineers are immediately confronted with vascularization as artificial tissues of a clinically relevant size require a vascular system to ensure vital physiologic logistics throughout the entire tissue and to enable rapid connection to the host vasculature following implantation. Using human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) coated onto a human aortic fibroblast (HAF) core microtissue generated by gravity-enforced self-assembly in hanging drops, we created a tissue-culture system for studying capillary network formation. We provide comprehensive technical insight into the design and analysis of prototype vascularization in multicell-type-based microtissues. Detailed understanding of generic processes managing capillary formation in human tissue culture may foster advances in the development of clinical tissue implants.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Chemical and Bio-Engineering, ETH Zurich, Clinic of Cardiovascular Surgery, Department of Surgical Research and Clinic for Cardiovascular Surgery, Division of Cardiovascular Regenerative Medicine, Zurich University Hospital, University Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

    Jens M. Kelm

  2. Clinic of Visceral Surgery, Zurich University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland

    Wolfgang Moritz

  3. Clinic of Cardiovascular Surgery, Department of Surgical Research and Clinic for Cardiovascular Surgery, Division of Cardiovascular Regenerative Medicine, Zurich University Hospital, University Hospital and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

    Doerthe Schmidt & Simon P. Hoerstrup

  4. Institute for Chemical and Bio-Engineering, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

    Martin Fussenegger

Authors
  1. Jens M. Kelm
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  2. Wolfgang Moritz
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  3. Doerthe Schmidt
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  4. Simon P. Hoerstrup
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  5. Martin Fussenegger
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Gene Regulation and Differentiation, National Research Center for Biotechnology GBF, Braunschweig, Germany

    Hansjörg Hauser

  2. Institute for Chemical and Bio-Engineering, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

    Martin Fussenegger

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© 2007 Humana Press Inc.

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Cite this protocol

Kelm, J.M., Moritz, W., Schmidt, D., Hoerstrup, S.P., Fussenegger, M. (2007). In Vitro Vascularization of Human Connective Microtissues. In: Hauser, H., Fussenegger, M. (eds) Tissue Engineering. Methods in Molecular Medicine™, vol 140. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59745-443-8_9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59745-443-8_9

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-58829-756-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-59745-443-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

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