ZHAO Qilong from the CAS Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology (SIAT) and WANG Min from the University of Hong Kong have developed a new method for biomanufacturing of vascularized tissue. They have encapsulated endothelial cells  in hydrogel microspheres and deposited them  along with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-containing nanofibers in the scaffold fabrication process, resulting in nanofibrous scaffolds with 3D embedded cell-encapsulated microspheres. After selective disruption of the hydrogel microspheres, the encapsulated endothelial cells were released, yielding bioactive nanofibrous scaffolds with tissue-like 3D cell-incorporated nanofibrous structures which could freely stretch, display enhanced intercellular connections, and maintain the phenotype in the bioactive nanofibrous scaffolds, indicating improved vascularization potential. 

CAS news release, February 3, 2021

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actbio.2021.01.035