Fabrication of Vascular Engineered Tissue Using Sacrificial Structures
- Detailed Technology Description
- Cornell researchers have developed a novel technique for fabricating three-dimensional vascular networks made up of thousands of microchannels in a polymer matrix.
- Others
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- Patent Application: PCT/US09/50856
- Bellan L. M., Singh S. P., Henderson P. W., Porri T. J., Craighead H. G., Spector J. A. (February 2009). Fabrication of an artificial 3-dimensional vascular network using sacrificial sugar structures. SOFT MATTER (2009).
- *Abstract
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Cornell researchers have developed a novel technique for fabricating three-dimensional vascular networks made up of thousands of microchannels in a polymer matrix. The technique is compatible with a wide range of materials, and is based on the use of a sacrificial, melt-spun material. This fibrous material is arranged on a substrate and a selected polymer is poured over it. After the polymer has cured, the sacrificial material can be washed away.
The resulting microchannel-filled materials have a wide range of useful applications. They provide excellent, highly vascular, tissue engineering constructs perfect for reconstructive surgery and wound healing applications. The fluidic structures also serve as ideal carriers of healing agents used in self-healing polymer materials, allowing these technologies to be expanded beyond coatings into larger scale materials. The high surface area vascular networks of course also serve as an ideal environment for various microfluidic processes (heat exchange, etc.).
Potential Applications
- Tissue engineering, including reconstructive surgery and would healing
- Self-healing polymer materials
- Microfluidics
Advantages
- Low cost
- Highly scalable
- Non-toxic
- Microchannels extend in all three dimensions
- *Licensing
- Martin Teschlmt439@cornell.edu(607) 254-4454
- Country/Region
- USA
