- Microvascular Imaging Methods for Tissue Engineering

Abstract

This special theme seeks to highlight the recent trends and innovative developments in tissue engineering (TE). The development of TE as an area of study has been rapid in the last one decade and, its definition is very broad depending on each individual's interpretation of the subject. For example, Freed and Novakovic [1] interpreted TE as having three major components: metabolically active cells, polymeric micro-carriers (scaffolds) and bioreactors. However, one may also view TE as a technology for culturing functional cells and tissues which, in particular, aims to create an in vitro environment that regulates cells and tissues development and maintenance in vivo. In general, topics of TE research can include but are not limited to cellular fate processes, methods of tissue characterization, tissue culture methods including TE bioreactors, biomaterials, three dimensional tissues like assemblies, design methods for TE scaffold, characterization of cell-scaffold material interactions, etc. Apart from these areas, research work on multi-scale analysis, mass transport and fluid flow in TE systems, and optimization methods for tissue culture systems are also found.