Application of biomaterials in vascularization of cardiac organoids

Jun Liu; Yaxing Feng; Peng Qu; Yunbo Luo; Jiao Shi; Cui Ma; Qi Liang; Long Zhao; Gang Li; Bo Yang; Panke Cheng

doi:10.1016/j.isci.2025.113531

Application of biomaterials in vascularization of cardiac organoids

iScience. 2025 Sep 8;28(10):113531. doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2025.113531. eCollection 2025 Oct 17.

Authors

Jun Liu¹, Yaxing Feng², Peng Qu^{3

4}, Yunbo Luo⁵, Jiao Shi^{3

4}, Cui Ma⁶, Qi Liang⁴, Long Zhao⁷, Gang Li³, Bo Yang¹, Panke Cheng^{3

8}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Radiotherapy, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 646000, China.
² Core Laboratory, School of Medicine, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital Affiliated to University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610072, China.
³ Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases & Department of Cardiology, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610072, China.
⁴ Department of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, School of Laboratory Medicine, Translational Medicine Research Center, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong 637007, Sichuan, China.
⁵ Department of Breast Surgery, Plastic Surgery, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China.
⁶ Department of Mathematics, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China.
⁷ Department of Neurosurgery, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, Sichuan 637000, China.
⁸ Ultrasound Medicine and Computational Cardiology Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu 610072, China.

Abstract

Cardiac organoids (COs) are platforms for disease modeling and regenerative medicine, yet inadequate vascularization still limits their function and longevity. This review examines how biomaterial properties-porosity, elasticity, surface chemistry, and bioactivity-regulate endothelial cell behavior and vascular network formation, thereby shaping progress in organoid vascularization. We survey natural, synthetic, and composite systems (e.g., collagen, fibrin, polyethylene glycol [PEG] hydrogels, and poly(ε-caprolactone) [PCL] scaffolds) used to promote vascularization. We also summarize fabrication strategies to improve perfusion, including micro/nanopatterning, scaffold design, and delivery of pro-angiogenic factors, and we outline technical routes for spatially patterned vasculature such as three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting and microfluidics. Ongoing challenges include degradation mismatch and incomplete integration. Future work should emphasize stimuli-responsive and bioactive materials, as well as standardized, scalable scaffold platforms, to strengthen reproducibility and translational efficiency. These directions will help optimize the vascular microenvironment of organoids, enhance functional maturation, and broaden applications in disease modeling, drug evaluation, and regenerative repair.

Keywords: Biological sciences; Materials science.

Publication types

Review