RESEARCH OVERVIEW
The Vascularization Lab focuses on tuning the local mechanical and chemical micro-environment in order to control development and organization of vascularized engineered tissues. Adding a vascular network to an engineered tissue is a promising method to enhance tissue integration and survival after implantation. The engineered vascular network can connect to the vasculature of the patient, resulting in a faster perfusion with blood and therefore a better supply of nutrients and oxygen. Even though the lab currently mainly focuses on the vascularization of cardiac tissue, the goal is to define universal principles that can be used for the vascularization of other types of engineered tissue as well.
The lab consists of three pillars, which each concentrate on a specific aspect to reach the common goal:
Keywords: Vascularization, endothelial, biofabrication, computational, cardiac
University of Twente.
Biomechanical Engineering / Technical Medical Centre
Drienerlolaan 5, Horstring W104
7522NB Enschede
Netherlands
+31 53 489 6497
j.rouwkema(at)utwente.nl
www.vascularizationlab.com