Cardiovascular tissue engineering of scaffolds for the treatment of vascular diseases

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Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) cover a broad spectrum of conditionswhose effects range from milddiscomfort and reduced quality of life to conditions which can be fatal if left untreated. Whilstcurrent medicinal methods can generally alleviate some of the symptoms of CVDs, sufferers of thesediseases are often left with a compromised cardiovascular network which requires carefulmanagement so as not t o re trigger the condition. Ideally, these vascular systems could be replacedwith fresh, autologous tissue, effectively treating the condition, and giving the patient a new leaseof life.A biological scaffold serves as a biomimetic physical platform fromwhich native cells may be seededand proliferate upon. When using an appropriate methodology, these cells may develop into fullyfunctional tissue. The initial material from which the scaffold is constructed is crucial, as ultimatelythe viability of the engineered tissue described by its structural and functional integrity, mechanicalproperties, and chance of rejection by the host is dictated to a large extent by this choice alone.One current area of interest is the use of a biodegradable polymer scaffold, through which themechanical properties of the scaffold may be controlled during cell proliferation, and, aftermaturation of the tissue, the scaffold will degrade and be naturally disposed of by the body. Furtherexploration into the development of polymer based biological scaffolds for use in cardiovascularsystems could yield significant improvements to prognoses of those who suffer from vasculardiseases.