Israeli discovery may lead to creation of artificial tissues for effective transplants
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E-mail Xinhua, December 13, 2018
JERUSALEM, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- Israeli scientists showed how mechanical forces affect the development of blood vessels in biological tissues, which could lead to the creation of artificial tissues for improved transplantation in patients, Israel Institute of Technology published on Wednesday.
The creation of artificial tissues for transplantation is a significant tool in medical treatment. The challenge is to produce the tissues so that they contain a network of blood vessels, which ensures a steady supply of oxygen and nutrients.
Most cells in the human body maintain contact with the extracellular matrix (ECM) surrounding them, and until recently it was assumed that this is primarily a biochemical interaction.
In recent years, however, mechanical interactions such as the ability of cells to sense and respond to the properties of the tissue have played a significant role in cell development and function.
The researchers examined the effect of mechanical forces on the nature of the networks and their growth directions.
The directional order of the artificial network is of great importance, which is to arrange them in a similar direction as the blood vessels in the target tissue. These aspects are essential for the implant's absorption and survival.
Tensile forces acting on the tissues during their growth lead to the growth of vessels with definite directionality. The researchers tried to understand how this process works and how to control it.
They discovered how a sequence of dynamic-cyclic stretching and static stretching can lead to the development of a directional order in vascular networks, although the biophysical mechanism underlying both processes is totally different.
The study led to the establishment of a tensile protocol that allows the creation of optimal tissues, including stable and rich networks with a well-defined directional order of blood vessels.
The scientists hope that the findings will advance the possibility of creating tissue structures in the future with structures and directions that will enable effective transplantation in patients. Enditem
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