In vivo models for biomaterials: applications from cardiovascular tissue engineering

Abstract The cardiovascular system is responsible for the delivery of blood and nutrients throughout the body. Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of death and current treatments are often insufficient to prevent a decline in patient health. The emerging field of tissue engineering has provided novel therapeutics for cardiovascular disease, incorporating a variety of tissue creation methods and biomaterials. These constructs are intended to replace damaged cardiac tissue and blood vessels. Consequently, the constructs must be assessed to ensure their quality and biocompatibility. In this review, we discuss the recent efforts in creating cardiovascular tissue constructs and in particular highlighting the biocompatibility outcomes in vivo.