Journal Club Theme of July 2011: Three Dimensional Biologically Inspired Microvascular Systems

From venation of leaves to the blood and lymph vessels and tracheae of insects, 3D filamentous branching networks are a common pattern in all higher organisms.  These busy “highways” supply the tissue with nutrition and oxygen, expel waste and heat, as well as conduct immune reactions and other signal pathways. These microvascular networks are also essential for effective response of external stimuli in some sensitive plants, such as Venus flytrap and Mimosa pudica.

Using advanced non-invasive 3D imaging techniques, such as functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and , X-ray micro-tomography (mCT), the entire 3D microvasculature network can be measured with spatial resolution at micrometer scale. The 3D geometries and density of those highly branched, fractal like interconnected networks is known to be optimized through evolution to maximize the efficiency of mass and information transport, which is a dominating factor for the regular functions of higher organisms such as vertebrates and plants. 

Although engineered microsystems have advanced in past few decades to facilitate heat transfer, camouflage, and self-healing functions by embedded microchannels, a quantitative understanding was lacking regarding the critical material and fabrication issues of these microvascular systems with microcirculation. We encourage discussion of the community of this emerging technology front. 

Related references

- Enhanced diffusional material exchange for tissue engineering:

Xia, Biomed. Microdevices, 2009, 11, 1339

- Fine motion control using direct materila delivery:

Lee, Soft Matter, 2010, 6, p4342

Lee, ASME Conf. Proc., 2008, 13, p765

Xia, J. Micromech. Microeng., 2010, 20, 085030

- Self healing materials

Toohey, Nat. Mater, 2007, 6, p581