In-situ cardiovascular tissue engineering offers tremendous benefits to the field of regenerative medicine. The technology aims at the implantation of a synthetic vascular or valvular graft that gradually transforms into a living, functional tissue inside the human body. Instructive scaffolds based on supramolecular chemistry, as illustrated here, allow for the controlled growth and specialization of vessels and valves while offering a commercially attractive, off-the-shelf technology for application in young and adult patients. For more information see: P.Y.W. Dankers, M.C. Harmsen, L.A. Brouwer, M.J.A. Van Luyn, E.W. Meijer, A modular and supramolecular approach to bioactive scaffolds for tissue engineering, Nat. Mater. 2005, 4, 568-574 (http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nmat1418). C.V.C. Bouten, P.Y.W. Dankers, A. Driessen-Mol, S. Pedron, A.M.A. Brizard, F.P.T. Baaijens, Substrates for cardiovascular tissue engineering, Adv. Drug Deliv. Rev. 2011, 63(4-5), 221-241 (http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.addr.2011.01.007). C.V.C. Bouten, A. Driessen-Mol, F.P.T. Baaijens, In-situ heart valve tissue engineering: simple devices, smart materials, complex knowledge, Expert Rev. Med. Devices 2012, 9(5), 453-455 (http://dx.doi.org/10.1586/erd.12.43). Credits: Animation: ICMS Animation Studio Voice-over: Studio Make Music: "Nebulas Night" by Jason Livesay

• published: 14 Mar 2014
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