The University of Arizona

James B Hoying

Stuart K Williams

Benjamin R Shepherd

Pierre A Deymier

Michael W Golway

Srini Raghavan

Roberto Guzman

Ian Jongewaard

Almoi Nyls Jongewaard, Legal Representative

This application discloses methods and materials for preparing functional microvascular beds in the laboratory. These prevascularized constructs can be used to vascularize engineered tissue constructs or to revascularize damaged or diseased tissues or organs following implantation. The prevascularized constructs may also deliver genetically engineered gene products to the bloodstream.

Prevascularized constructs for implantation to provide blood perfusion

Microtubules are excellent candidates for the fabrication of nanostructures, including nanowires. A method for controlled nucleation and growth of microtubules on substrates (e.g., gold on a silicon wafer) is provided. The substrate is functionalized with a nucleating agent for microtubule growth. The method can be employed to generate nanoscale structures on substrates or between substrates by additional attachment of MT capture agents which function to capture the ends of growing MT to form connecting MT structures. The method can be used to form 2- and 3-D structures on or between substrates and can function to establish interconnects between nanoscale devices or molecular electronic devices and electrodes. A specific method for metallization of biological macromolecules and structures in provides which can be beneficially applied to metallized the MT formed by the growth and capture method. The metallization method is biologically benign and is particularly useful for copper metallization of MTs.

Directional self-assembly of biological electrical interconnects

Prevascularized contructs for implantation to provide blood perfusion

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Tucson, AZ, United States of America

James B Hoying