Bioengineering angiogenesis: Novel approaches to stimulating microvessel growth and remodeling

Angiogenesis, the growth of new blood vessels from existing blood vessels, and arteriogenesis, the formation and expansion of arterioles and arteries, are closely related processes that directly impact countless physiological and pathological conditions. Because of their ubiquitous nature, angiogenesis and arteriogenesis offer a number of unique challenges for the future of health care, with perhaps the most visible challenge stemming from the fact that tumors utilize angiogenesis to facilitate both the growth and metastasis of cancer. However, angiogenesis and arteriogenesis also offer exciting therapeutic opportunities, and the development of novel methods for mobilizing our natural capacity to grow and remodel the microvasculature will ultimately have a tremendous impact on medicine in the future. Neovascularization therapy will have a significant bearing on the success of tissue engineering and on our ability to restore blood flow to tissues and organs affected by occlusive vascular disease, particularly for those patients that are not amenable to surgical revascularization.