In a groundbreaking development that could revolutionize tissue engineering and energy storage, researchers have successfully engineered 3D vascularized adipose tissue in vitro. This innovative approach, detailed in a recent study published in Bioactive Materials, could have profound implications for the energy sector, particularly in the development of advanced biofuels and energy storage solutions.
The study, led by Sangmin Lee from the Department of Bioengineering at Hanyang University in Seoul, Republic of Korea, and the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Illinois at Chicago, USA, focuses on the intricate relationship between adipogenesis and vasculogenesis. Adipose tissue, which is highly vascularized, plays a crucial role in energy storage and homeostasis. However, traditional methods of engineering 3D vascularized adipose tissue often face challenges due to the suppression of endothelial function during adipogenic differentiation.
Lee and his team have developed a novel approach to overcome these challenges. They created adipo-inductive nanofibers (ID/F@INS) containing indomethacin and insulin, which significantly enhanced the in vitro adipogenesis of human adipose-derived stem cells (hADSCs) when encapsulated in a gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) hydrogel. “By integrating these nanofibers into our hydrogel system, we were able to mimic the natural clustering process during de novo adipogenesis,” Lee explained. “This biomimetic integration allowed us to investigate the interactions between adipogenesis and vascularization more effectively.”
The researchers generated adipogenic spheroids (AS) of varying sizes and found that larger spheroids exhibited markedly greater adipogenesis. They also created vascular spheroids (VS) using hADSCs and human umbilical vein endothelial cells. The integration of AS and VS within GelMA hydrogels at a VS:AS ratio of 2:1 significantly improved vascular network formation, indicating the concurrent stimulation of adipogenesis and vasculogenesis.
This breakthrough has the potential to shape future developments in the field of tissue engineering and energy storage. The ability to engineer vascularized adipose tissue in vitro could lead to the development of advanced biofuels and energy storage solutions, which are crucial for the energy sector. “Our system not only enhances vascularization and adipogenesis but also provides a platform for developing in vitro disease models,” Lee noted. “This could have significant implications for studying obesity and other metabolic disorders, as well as for therapeutic applications in tissue reconstruction.”
The study also demonstrated the potential of the engineered tissue for therapeutic applications in vivo. When implanted into mice, the engineered tissue showed both vascularization and adipogenesis, further highlighting its potential for future applications.
The findings, published in Bioactive Materials, represent a significant step forward in the field of tissue engineering. The ability to engineer vascularized adipose tissue in vitro could have far-reaching implications for the energy sector, particularly in the development of advanced biofuels and energy storage solutions. As researchers continue to explore the potential of this technology, the future of tissue engineering and energy storage looks brighter than ever.
