Abstract: The presently disclosed subject matter provides a scalable and electrostretching approach for generating hydrogel microfibers exhibiting uniaxial alignment from aqueous polymer solutions. Such hydrogel microfibers can be generated from a variety of water-soluble natural polymers or synthetic polymers. The hydrogel microfibers can be used for controlled release of bioactive agents. The internal uniaxial alignment exhibited by the presently disclosed hydrogel fibers provides improved mechanical properties to hydrogel microfibers, and contact guidance cues and induces alignment for cells seeded on or within the hydrogel microfibers.

Abstract: Described are methods of making vascular grafts from man-made tubular scaffolds, tubular scaffolds, and methods implanting vascular grafts comprising tubular scaffolds into subjects. The tubular scaffolds of the present invention are made of hydrogel nanofibers that have internally aligned polymer chains and may be cellularized.

Abstract: The presently disclosed subject matter provides a scalable and electrostretching approach for generating hydrogel microfibers exhibiting uniaxial alignment from aqueous polymer solutions. Such hydrogel microfibers can be generated from a variety of water-soluble natural polymers or synthetic polymers. The hydrogel microfibers can be used for controlled release of bioactive agents. The internal uniaxial alignment exhibited by the presently disclosed hydrogel fibers provides improved mechanical properties to hydrogel microfibers, and contact guidance cues and induces alignment for cells seeded on or within the hydrogel microfibers.

Abstract: An in vitro model system that guides the development of microvasculature, recapitulating the detailed organization of both its cellular and a-cellular components is established. Use of electrostretched fibrin microfibers enables both endothelial layer organization and co-culture of supporting perivascular (mural) cells such as vascular smooth muscle cells and pericytes. The fiber curvature affects the circumferential deposition of endothelial-produced ECM independently of cellular organization and induces deposition of higher quantities of vascular ECM proteins. Further, a luminal multicellular microvascular structure is disclosed.