Tailoring Vessel Morphology In Vivo | Dr. Daniel Gould

Dr. Daniel Gould's doctoral research at Rice University examined how bioengineered materials could be designed to influence the formation, organization, and morphology of blood vessels in living tissue.

A central challenge in tissue engineering is vascularization. Engineered tissues require an effective blood supply to deliver oxygen and nutrients, particularly as tissue constructs become larger and more complex. Dr. Gould's research explored how biomaterials could be engineered to encourage the development of vascular networks that more closely resemble those found naturally in the body.

The research incorporated angiogenic growth factors and cellular signaling and adhesion cues into biomimetic polyethylene glycol, or PEG, hydrogels. By precisely adjusting the composition of these materials, the work investigated whether different vascular structures could be intentionally produced.

Dr. Gould also developed an image-based analytical method to quantify microvascular morphology. This allowed engineered vessels to be compared with naturally occurring vascular networks and provided a more sophisticated way to measure differences in vascular organization and remodeling.

Using an in vivo angiogenesis model, the research demonstrated that growth-factor delivery could be adjusted to generate vascular structures with characteristics resembling targeted native vessels. The work also explored pre-seeded hydrogel constructs capable of connecting with host vasculature shortly after implantation.

The dissertation reflects the bioengineering foundation of Dr. Gould's later work in plastic and reconstructive surgery, combining biomaterials, vascular biology, tissue engineering, and quantitative analysis to investigate how regenerative tissues can be designed and supported.