Abstract Secondary lymphedema is a life‐long disorder characterized by chronic tissue swelling and inflammation that obstruct interstitial fluid circulation and immune cell trafficking. Regenerating lymphatic vasculatures using various strategies represents a promising treatment for lymphedema. Growth factor injection and gene delivery have been developed to stimulate lymphangiogenesis and augment interstitial fluid resorption. Using bioengineered materials as growth factor delivery vehicles allows for a more precisely targeted lymphangiogenic activation within the injured site. The implantation of prevascularized lymphatic tissue also promotesin situlymphatic capillary network formation. The engineering of larger scale lymphatic tissues, including lymphatic collecting vessels and lymph nodes constructed by bioengineered scaffolds or decellularized animal tissues, offers alternatives to reconnecting damaged lymphatic vessels and restoring lymph circulation. These approaches provide lymphatic vascular grafting materials to reimpose lymphatic continuity across the site of injury, without creating secondary injuries at donor sites. The present work reviews molecular mechanisms mediating lymphatic system development, approaches to promoting lymphatic network regeneration, and strategies for engineering lymphatic tissues, including lymphatic capillaries, collecting vessels, and nodes. Challenges of advanced translational applications are also discussed.
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Nanotechnologies for Physiology-Informed Drug Delivery to the Lymphatic System
Accompanying the increasing translational impact of immunotherapeutic strategies to treat and prevent disease has been a broadening interest across both bioscience and bioengineering in the lymphatic system. Herein, the lymphatic system physiology, ranging from its tissue structures to immune functions and effects, is described. Design principles and engineering approaches to analyze and manipulate this tissue system in nanoparticle-based drug delivery applications are also elaborated.
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- Award ID(s):
- 2047017
- PAR ID:
- 10478318
- Publisher / Repository:
- Annual Review of Biomedical Engineering
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Annual Review of Biomedical Engineering
- Volume:
- 25
- Issue:
- 1
- ISSN:
- 1523-9829
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 233 to 256
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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