FIGURE 1.

Key microvascular players and model requirements. The microcirculation consists of blood vessels and initial lymphatic vessels. Mimicking the complexity of an intact microvascular network during angiogenesis and lymphangiogesis entails the incorporation of multiple cell types in system relevant patterns, chemical cues, vessel perfusion, and an appropriate matrix environment. A goal for tissue engineering and biomimetic microvascular model development is to recapitulate the multi-cell/system interactions and vessel functionality.