ABSTRACT
The clinical success of tissue-engineered scaffolds used for the replacement and reconstruction of damaged and/or diseased tissues and organs requires the formation of an extensive and stable microvascular network. In the absence of a perfusable network capable of mediating adequate mass transport of oxygen and nutrients, and removal of waste products, tissue-engineered constructs are unable to support cell and tissue viability throughout the scaffold. The ability to induce and maintain neovascularization (new blood vessel formation) in scaffolds presents unique challenges in tissue engineering due to the complexity and volume of the tissues targeted (Papavasiliou et al. 2010).
