# In Vivo Acoustic Patterning for Tissue Vascularization

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER · 2024 · $510,772

## Abstract

Microvascular insufficiency and in turn, tissue ischemia and necrosis, contribute to a variety of chronic diseases,
and can be an adverse outcome of common reconstructive and plastic surgeries. The goal of this project is to
advance a novel ultrasound-based technology to induce neovascularization directly in vivo, and thereby enhance
local tissue perfusion. Acoustic patterning utilizes radiation forces associated with an ultrasound field to rapidly
and non-invasively organize cells or microparticles volumetrically into defined geometric assemblies. We have
shown that in vitro acoustic patterning of endothelial cells within collagen hydrogels leads to the formation of
three-dimensional microvascular networks, and that acoustic field parameters employed for patterning influence
microvessel morphology. In our recent studies, in vivo acoustic patterning of endothelial cells within injectable
hydrogels resulted in formation of perfused microvascular networks in a murine model, providing the first proof-
of-concept demonstration that non-invasive, acoustic cell patterning can be used to fabricate functional
microvascular networks directly in vivo. An important advantage of ultrasound is its ability to propagate through
tissue as an acoustic beam, thus offering avenues to rapidly translate this technology toward in vivo tissue
regeneration. Research and development in three key areas are necessary to advance acoustic patterning
towards clinical translation: i) development of systematic protocols to fabricate functional microvessel networks
within patterned hydrogels, ii) engineering innovative instrumentation for acoustic patterning in vivo, and iii)
demonstrated efficacy of the technology in a preclinical model. We address these key areas as follows. Aim 1
will identify sets of acoustic parameters, along with hydrogel and cell combinations, that give rise to functional
microvascular networks, in a manner that allows for predictable control over the morphology of three-dimensional
microvascular networks. Aim 2 will advance two acoustic instrumentation systems, a dual-transducer system
and a phase holographic lens transducer, to provide versatile systems for efficient, site-specific patterning in vivo.
Aim 3 will evaluate the efficacy of our in vivo acoustic patterning strategies using mouse models of tissue
vascularization and ischemia. Completion of this project will advance in vivo acoustic patterning technologies for
tissue vascularization to address a range of clinically relevant scenarios of tissue ischemia.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10852067
- **Project number:** 1R01EB035523-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER
- **Principal Investigator:** DIANE DALECKI
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $510,772
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-05-15 → 2028-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10852067

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10852067, In Vivo Acoustic Patterning for Tissue Vascularization (1R01EB035523-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10852067. Licensed CC0.

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