# Perfusable 3D human cardiac constructs for heart regeneration

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON · 2020 · $836,244

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
Vascularization and perfusion remain as long-standing challenges in engineering thick cardiac tissue con-
structs and enabling efficient host integration once implanted. In this proposal, we form an interdisciplinary
team that brings complementary expertise from different scientific fields to build cardiac tissue integrated with
a hierarchical vascular system, all derived from a single stem cell source, and develop new imaging tools to
measure tissue perfusion dynamics in vitro and in vivo. The overall hypothesis is that a hierarchical vasculature
with perfusion will enable engineering of thick and functional human myocardium in vitro and improve vascular
and cardiac integration in vivo. We will use human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) to generate all cellular com-
ponents, namely cardiomyocytes, epicardial cells, endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, and cardiac fibro-
blasts, in the engineered cardiac constructs. In Specific Aim 1, we will combine three of our recently developed
techniques (lithography, self-assembly and direct photopatterning) to fabricate vessel trees with diameter rang-
ing from large arterioles to capillaries, and assess their pressure- and flow-based remodeling under perfusion
in vitro. In Specific Aim 2, we will test the role of perfusion on cardiomyocyte survival, maturation and contrac-
tile function in hPSC derived cardiac constructs. We will build large scale three millimeter thick vascularized
cardiac constructs that allow for long term remodeling. In Specific Aim 3, we will assess the effect of perfusion
and vascular architecture on vascular and cardiac integration in vivo. We will improve our prototype optical mi-
croangiography (OMAG) system to assess perfusion dynamics in the graft and host over time after implanta-
tion. This project merges new vascular engineering technology, stem cell biology, and imaging tools and ap-
plies them towards engineering an improved cardiac tissue. The success of the project will provide important
information in designing principles and optimization process in vascularization, perfusion, and cardiac function
towards future cardiac tissue engineering and regenerative approaches.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9869032
- **Project number:** 5R01HL141570-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
- **Principal Investigator:** Charles E Murry
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $836,244
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-04-01 → 2022-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9869032

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9869032, Perfusable 3D human cardiac constructs for heart regeneration (5R01HL141570-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9869032. Licensed CC0.

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