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The Discovery FilesNew Spin
Researchers turn to the vascular system of plants to solve a major bioengineering problem blocking the regeneration of human tissues and organs. Current bioengineering techniques, including 3-D printing, can't fabricate the branching network of blood vessels down to the capillary scale that are required to deliver the oxygen, nutrients and essential molecules required for proper tissue growth. To solve this problem, a multidisciplinary research team at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Arkansas State University-Jonesboro have successfully turned to plants.
Credit: National Science Foundation/Karson Productions
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