The team published their findings in Scientific Reports.

Through this new approach, scientists could use an individual’s own cells, or cells from a donor, to rapidly create custom-designed tissues that match the size and shape of the parts of vasculature to be replaced.

Current treatments for severe cardiovascular disease include the use of grafts made from a patient’s own tissues (autologous) or synthetic materials. However, autologous grafts require invasive surgery and have a significant failure rate, and synthetic grafts are limited to large blood vessels and prone to leakage and harmful bacterial colonization.

Bioprinted vasculature could offer a better solution.