Angiogenesis in hydrogel biomaterials

Our ever-improving understanding of the cellular and molecular processes involved in angiogenesis enables increasingly sophisticated design of pro-angiogenic biomaterials. More complex interactions may be required for formation of optimally functional vasculature. Engineered microvasculature in hydrogel biomaterials may also have far-reaching impacts on the development of optimised culture systems for a variety of stem cells. In vivo, many stem cell niches are closely associated with microvasculature, and these associations have been shown to be critical to the maintenance of stem cells in the niche microenvironment.