Vascularised hydrogels

Researchers have created networks of microchannels in a variety of hydrogels using a micromolding strategy.   Networks of channels enhanced osteogenic cell viability and differentiation in cell-laden micromolded gels.  The channels could be lined with a confluent layer of endothelial cells to create an engineered vasculature.  The hydrogels remained fully perfused. 

Hydrogel Bioprinted Microchannel Networks for Vascularization of Tissue Engineering Constructs; L.E.Bertassoni et al, Lab on a Chip, DOI: 10.1039/C4LC00030G

http://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2014/lc/c4lc00030g#!divAbstract

Bone marrow on a chip

Bone marrow grown within a device implanted in a mouse resembles natural marrow, researchers reported.  The tissue could be explanted whole, inserted into a lab-on-a-chip and maintained in vitro for 7 days.  The cultured marrow mimicked tissue responses to radiation toxicity and treatment for exposure normally only observed in vivo.

Bone marrow-on-a-chip replicates hematopoietic niche physiology in vitro; Y-S Torisawa et al; Nature Methods AOP doi:10.1038/nmeth.2938

http://www.nature.com/nmeth/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nmeth.2938.html

Mechanically functional engineered cartilage

Researchers have mimicked mesenchymal condensation using a cellular self-assembly method to successfully generate centimetre-sized anatomically-shaped cartilage from human mesenchymal stem cells.  The engineered tissue was stratified with physiologically relevant values of Young’s modulus and co-efficient of friction.  In vitro data suggested the method could be used to repair cartilage defects.

Large, stratified and mechanically functional human cartilage grown in vitro by mesenchymal condensation, S. Bhumiritana et al, PNAS, doi/10.1073/pnas.1324050111

http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2014/04/25/1324050111.full