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3D Printable Vascular Networks Generated by Accelerated Constrained Constructive Optimization for Tissue Engineering.

Accepted version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

Change log

Authors

Guy, Andrew A 
Justin, Alexander W 
Aguilar-Garza, Dulce M 
Markaki, Athina E 

Abstract

One of the greatest challenges in fabricating artificial tissues and organs is the incorporation of vascular networks to support the biological requirements of the embedded cells, encouraging tissue formation and maturation. With the advent of 3D printing technology, significant progress has been made with respect to generating vascularized artificial tissues. Current algorithms to generate arterial/venous trees are computationally expensive and offer limited freedom to optimize the resulting structures. Furthermore, there is no method for algorithmic generation of vascular networks that can recapitulate the complexity of the native vasculature for more than two trees, and export directly to a 3D printing format. Here, we report such a method, using an accelerated constructive constrained optimization approach, by decomposing the process into construction, optimization, and collision resolution stages. The new approach reduces computation time to minutes at problem sizes where previous implementations have reported days. With the optimality criterion of maximizing the volume of useful tissue which could be grown around such a network, an approach of alternating stages of construction and batch optimization of all node positions is introduced and shown to yield consistently more optimal networks. The approach does not place a limit on the number of interpenetrating networks that can be constructed in a given space; indeed we demonstrate a biomimetic, liver-like tissue model. Methods to account for the limitations of 3D printing are provided, notably the minimum feature size and infill at sharp angles, through padding and angle reduction, respectively.

Description

Keywords

Algorithms, Arteries, Biomimetics, Printing, Three-Dimensional, Tissue Engineering

Journal Title

IEEE Trans Biomed Eng

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0018-9294
1558-2531

Volume Title

67

Publisher

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)

Rights

All rights reserved
Sponsorship
Isaac Newton Trust (18.07i(c))
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/K503241/1)
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/N509620/1)
EPSRC (2105006)
EPSRC Doctoral Training Partner-ship Award (EP/N509620/1) EPSRC (EP/R511675/1 & EP/N509620/1) Isaac Newton Trust Rosetrees Trust (M787). Cambridge Trust CONACyT (Mexico) EPSRC Cambridge & Cranfield Doctoral Training Centre in Ultra Precision (EP/K503241/1)