Functionalizing biomaterials to promote neurovascular regeneration following skeletal muscle injury

During embryogenesis, blood vessels and nerves develop with similar branching structure in response to shared signaling pathways guiding network growth. With both systems integral to physiological homeostasis, dual targeting of blood vessels and nerves to promote neurovascular regeneration following injury is an emerging therapeutic approach in biomedical engineering. A limitation to this strategy is that the nature of cross talk between emergent vessels and nerves during regeneration in an adult is poorly understood. Following peripheral nerve transection, intraneural vascular cells infiltrate the site of injury to provide a migratory pathway for mobilized Schwann cells of regenerating axons. As Schwann cells demyelinate, they secrete vascular endothelial growth factor, which promotes angiogenesis. Recent advances point to concomitant restoration of neurovascular architecture and function through simultaneous targeting of growth factors and guidance cues shared by both systems during regeneration. In the context of traumatic injury associated with volumetric muscle loss, we consider the nature of biomaterials used to engineer three-dimensional scaffolds, functionalization of scaffolds with molecular signals that guide and promote neurovascular growth, and seeding scaffolds with progenitor cells. Physiological success is defined by each tissue component of the bioconstruct (nerve, vessel, muscle) becoming integrated with that of the host. Advances in microfabrication, cell culture techniques, and progenitor cell biology hold great promise for engineering bioconstructs able to restore organ function after volumetric muscle loss.