ReviewPost screenHarnessing gene and drug delivery for vascularizing engineered tissue platforms

- We present the opportunity of using tissue engineering platforms to study newly discovered genes.
- Three emerging themes for vascularizing engineered tissues are discussed.
- Modular tissue engineering is highlighted as a platform to dissect the role of novel targets.

Enhancement of tissue vascularization is a therapeutic target for many ischemic conditions, and is crucial for successful engraftment of therapeutic cells for tissue regeneration. The authors present opportunities for using these platforms for dissecting the role of angiogenic mechanisms and highlight recent gene and drug delivery strategies for enhancing vascularization of engineered tissues. Modular tissue engineering is featured as an example.