Fibrin-Based Microvascular Network for the Modular Design of a Cardiac Patch

A major limitation hindering the development of a cardiac tissue scaffold with a clinically relevant thickness is the lack of adequate vascularization. A thin fibrin hydrogel was engineered with a microvascular network to create a perfusable system that delivers nutrients to a layer-by-layer constructed cardiac tissue scaffold. The team utilized computational modeling to optimize the microvascular network for uniform flow velocity and shear stresses. Finally, mass diffusion from a single channel embedded in fibrin was quantified and cells were seeded on medium perfused gel. Results suggest that perfusion of medium through the central channel enhanced cellular survival when cultured on the surface. Therefore, a fibrin microvascular network may be a viable solution as a perfusable construct