Nanostructured biomaterials for improved vascularization in tissue engineering

Understanding the interactions between cells and materials is of fundamental importance for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. An ideal scaffold should mimic the natural tissue microenvironment, directing cells to organize into a functional mul ticellular architecture by presenting the biochemical and spatial cues that induce appropriate cell proliferation and differentiation. Importantly, the nanoscale topology of these interactions is a crucial determinant of cell responses. Indeed, contempora ry nanotechnology-based approaches to materials biofunctionalization endeavour to mimic the nanoscale interaction mechanisms characteristic of natural biological systems. The establishment of a proper blood circulation is a critical prerequisite for eng ineered tissues. Indeed, abnormal circulation is characteristic of many diseases and is an important target for pharmaceutical development. Neovasculature represents a paradigm for the study of functional multicellular interactions in cell biology. Angiog enic endothelial cells respond to a combinatorial collection of microenviromental cues comprising growth factor gradients, extracellular matrix and heterotypic cell-cell interactions. A recent insight is that the specific context in which extracellular si gnals are presented determines the endothelial cellular response affecting by intracellular signaling networks. We are actively applying contemporary nanotechnology approaches to mimic the nanotopological interaction mechanisms that elicit endothelial c ell signaling networks. An innovative integration of advanced cytometry and functional nanostructure fabrication will be used to study the principle of contextual cellular signaling to elucidate molecular mechanisms underpinning functional blood vessel fo rmation. We endeavor to apply this knowledge to improve the opportunity to develop novel in vitro models of angiogenesis and improve current tissue engineering methodologies.