• HOME
  • NEWS
  • EXPLORE
    • CAREER
      • Companies
      • Jobs
    • EVENTS
    • iGEM
      • News
      • Team
    • PHOTOS
    • VIDEO
    • WIKI
  • BLOG
  • COMMUNITY
    • FACEBOOK
    • INSTAGRAM
    • TWITTER
Monday, July 28, 2025
BIOENGINEER.ORG
No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • HOME
  • NEWS
  • EXPLORE
    • CAREER
      • Companies
      • Jobs
        • Lecturer
        • PhD Studentship
        • Postdoc
        • Research Assistant
    • EVENTS
    • iGEM
      • News
      • Team
    • PHOTOS
    • VIDEO
    • WIKI
  • BLOG
  • COMMUNITY
    • FACEBOOK
    • INSTAGRAM
    • TWITTER
  • HOME
  • NEWS
  • EXPLORE
    • CAREER
      • Companies
      • Jobs
        • Lecturer
        • PhD Studentship
        • Postdoc
        • Research Assistant
    • EVENTS
    • iGEM
      • News
      • Team
    • PHOTOS
    • VIDEO
    • WIKI
  • BLOG
  • COMMUNITY
    • FACEBOOK
    • INSTAGRAM
    • TWITTER
No Result
View All Result
Bioengineer.org
No Result
View All Result
Home NEWS Science News Biology

Vascularized kidney tissue engineered by WFIRM scientists

Bioengineer by Bioengineer
May 23, 2019
in Biology
Reading Time: 3 mins read
0
ADVERTISEMENT
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on LinkedinShare on RedditShare on Telegram

WINSTON-SALEM, NC, May 22, 2019 – Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine (WFIRM) researchers have shown the feasibility of bioengineering vascularized functional renal tissues for kidney regeneration, developing a partial augmentation strategy that may be a more feasible and practical approach than creating whole organs.

In the proof-of-concept study published online this month in Acta Biomaterialia journal, the scientists created a novel biomimetic, collagen-based vascular scaffold – a mold – that is structurally identical to native kidney tissue that was able to develop vascularized tissue.

“The use of this scaffold system could address the challenges associated with vascularization and may be an ideal treatment strategy for augmentation of renal function in patients with chronic kidney disease,” said James Yoo, M.D., Ph.D., lead author and professor of regenerative medicine at WFIRM. “Vascularization continues to be one of the major hurdles affecting the survival and integration of implanted 3D tissue constructs.”

In the United States, chronic kidney disease is prevalent, affecting more than 700,000 patients living with end stage renal disease. Although dialysis has supported the survival of patients with end stage renal disease, kidney transplantation remains the only definitive treatment. However, there are currently nearly 100,000 people on the waiting list, with nearly 9,000 patients being removed yearly due to deteriorating medical condition or death, which reflects the current state of ongoing organ shortage.

The limitations of current therapies for end stage renal disease led WFIRM researchers to explore the development of renal 3D constructs with the goal of improving, restoring, or replacing partial or total renal function.

“A universal challenge in engineering large solid organs is the need for vascularization,” said Anthony Atala, M.D., a co-author of the paper and director of WFIRM. “Kidneys depend on complex 3D vascular networks for tissue survival and renal function, but the intricate nature of the renal vasculature makes replication difficult.”

In order to treat chronic kidney disease, the WFIRM researchers knew they needed to address the feasibility of applying their vascular scaffold in the context of partial renal implantation. They have shown that the vascular scaffolds can be perfused and endothelialized in the lab, but the question of integration and functionality in a clinical model remained.

Various materials and combinations of collagen hydrogel, endothelial cells and renal cells were tested. Using polycaprolactone (PCL) solution and collagen as the casting and scaffold materials, respectively, the scientists essentially made molds using donor kidneys as templates, creating hollow scaffolds that were cultured in renal growth medium before implantation into the preclinical model. The level of neovascularization, survival of implanted human renal cells, and renal structure formation was evaluated.

The renal vascular scaffold showed a 3D branching architecture with visible hollow channels that were interconnected and continuous. These branching structures were able to allow perfusion similar to native blood vessels. The researchers showed that the vascular scaffolds integrated with the host vessels and supported renal cell viability.

“The biomimetic vascular scaffold coated with endothelial cells showed significantly enhanced vascularization, as compared to the uncoated scaffold and hydrogel only groups,” Yoo said. “Along with the improved vascularization effects, the endothelial cell-coated scaffolds showed a significant renal cell infiltration from the neighboring host tissue, as compared to the other groups.”

The results are promising and support continued exploration of this method to further evaluate renal function of the implanted constructs and address limitations such as improving systemic renal function.

“Overall, we are very pleased with the outcomes thus far,” Atala said. “Further work is necessary to establish a reliable and reproducible system for clinical translation.”

###

Co-authors include: Jennifer Huling, Sang-il Min, Doo Sang Kim and In Kap Ko, all of WFIRM.

This study was supported by departmental funds of WFIRM. The authors report no conflicts of interest.

Media Contact
Bonnie Davis
bdavis@wakehealth.edu

Related Journal Article

https://newsroom.wakehealth.edu/News-Releases/2019/05/Vascularized-Kidney-Tissue-Engineered-by-WFIRM-Scientists
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.actbio.2019.04.001

Tags: Biomedical/Environmental/Chemical EngineeringBiotechnologyCell BiologyChemistry/Physics/Materials SciencesHealth CareMedicine/HealthResearch/Development
Share12Tweet8Share2ShareShareShare2

Related Posts

Decoding FLS2 Unveils Broad Pathogen Detection Principles

Decoding FLS2 Unveils Broad Pathogen Detection Principles

July 28, 2025
Archaeal Ribosome Shows Unique Active Site, Hibernation Factor

Archaeal Ribosome Shows Unique Active Site, Hibernation Factor

July 26, 2025

Machine Learning Uncovers Sorghum’s Complex Mold Resistance

July 26, 2025

Root N-Hydroxypipecolic Acid Circuit Boosts Arabidopsis Immunity

July 26, 2025
Please login to join discussion

POPULAR NEWS

  • Blind to the Burn

    Overlooked Dangers: Debunking Common Myths About Skin Cancer Risk in the U.S.

    53 shares
    Share 21 Tweet 13
  • USF Research Unveils AI Technology for Detecting Early PTSD Indicators in Youth Through Facial Analysis

    42 shares
    Share 17 Tweet 11
  • Dr. Miriam Merad Honored with French Knighthood for Groundbreaking Contributions to Science and Medicine

    45 shares
    Share 18 Tweet 11
  • Engineered Cellular Communication Enhances CAR-T Therapy Effectiveness Against Glioblastoma

    35 shares
    Share 14 Tweet 9

About

We bring you the latest biotechnology news from best research centers and universities around the world. Check our website.

Follow us

Recent News

Decoding FLS2 Unveils Broad Pathogen Detection Principles

Advanced Pressure-Velocity Patch Enhances Flight Detection

Durable, Flexible Electrochemical Transistors via Electropolymerized PEDOT

  • Contact Us

Bioengineer.org © Copyright 2023 All Rights Reserved.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Homepages
    • Home Page 1
    • Home Page 2
  • News
  • National
  • Business
  • Health
  • Lifestyle
  • Science

Bioengineer.org © Copyright 2023 All Rights Reserved.