Breathing life into engineered tissues using oxygen-releasing biomaterials

Abstract

Engineering three-dimensional (3D) tissues in clinically relevant sizes have demonstrated to be an effective solution to bridge the gap between organ demand and the dearth of compatible organ donors. A major challenge to the clinical translation of tissue-engineered constructs is the lack of vasculature to support an adequate supply of oxygen and nutrients post-implantation. Previous efforts to improve the vascularization of engineered tissues have not been commensurate to meeting the oxygen demands of implanted constructs during the process of homogeneous integration with the host. Maintaining cell viability and metabolic activity during this period is imperative to the survival and functionality of the engineered tissues. As a corollary, there has been a shift in the scientific impetus beyond improving vascularization. Strategies to engineer biomaterials that encapsulate cells and provide the sustained release of oxygen over time are now being explored. This review summarizes different types of oxygen-releasing biomaterials, strategies for their fabrication, and approaches to meet the oxygen requirements in various tissue engineering applications, including cardiac, skin, bone, cartilage, pancreas, and muscle regeneration.