Researchers at Illinois have developed a “microvascular stamp” that lays out a blueprint for new blood vessels and spurs their growth in predetermined pattern. The research team included (from left, standing) Rashid Bashir, a of electrical and computer engineering; graduate student Vincent Chan; K. Jimmy Hsia, a of mechanical science and engineering; graduate student Casey Dyck; and Hyunjoon Kong, a of chemical and biomolecular engineering; and (from left, seated) postdoctoral researcher Jae Hyun Jeong and graduate student Chaenyung Cha.
CHAMPAIGN, lll. Researchers have developed a bandage that stimulates and directs blood vessel growth on the surface of a wound. The bandage, called a "microvascular stamp," contains living cells that deliver growth factors to damaged tissues in a defined pattern. After a week, the pattern of the stamp "is written in blood vessels," the researchers report. A paper describing the new approach will appear as the January 2012 cover article of the journal Advanced Materials. "Any kind of tissue you want to rebuild, including bone, muscle or skin, is highly vascularized," said University of Illinois chemical and biomolecular engineering professor Hyunjoon Kong, a co-principal investigator on the study with electrical and computer engineering professor Rashid Bashir. "But one of the big challenges in recreating vascular networks is how we can control the growth and spacing of new blood vessels." "The ability to pattern functional blood vessels at this scale in living tissue has not been demonstrated before," Bashir said.
TO READ THIS ARTICLE, CREATE YOUR ACCOUNT
And extend your reading, free of charge and with no commitment.
