Directions in cardiovascular tissue engineering

The generation of tissue replacements or supplements for diseased tissue wi thin the cardiovascular system has been the target of recent tissue enginee ring efforts. While clinically applicable methodologies remain to be achiev ed, important foundational experimentation has been performed in recent yea rs to begin the move toward engineered tissue replacement therapy. Inadequa cies of current valve, vessel, and other heart prostheses are reviewed brie fly, followed by the discussion of selected progress in the supplementation or replacement of each cardiovascular component with tissue constructs. To pics addressed include the endothelialization of bioprosthetic valves and s ynthetic vascular grafts, the generation of tissue valve leaflets and vascu lar conduits, the genetic manipulation of endothelial cells with implicatio ns for graft endothelialization, and cardiomyoplasty achieved through cellu lar and genetic means.