vascularize

Vascularize is a verb meaning to supply with blood vessels or to develop a vascular system within tissue. The word derives from Latin vasculum, meaning a small vessel, with the suffix -ize to form a verb.

In animals and humans, vascularization refers to the growth or ingrowth of blood vessels into tissues, a process known as angiogenesis (and vasculogenesis in early development). Adequate vascularization is essential for oxygen and nutrient delivery, waste removal, and tissue survival. Insufficient vascularization can impair healing and function, while excessive or abnormal vascularization occurs in diseases such as cancer (tumor neovascularization) and retinopathies.

In regenerative medicine and tissue engineering, promoting vascularization is a central challenge. Approaches include seeding scaffolds with endothelial cells, applying pro-angiogenic growth factors like vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), designing porous or microchannel-containing materials to facilitate vessel ingrowth, and constructing pre-formed vascular networks that can connect to the host circulation.

In plant biology, vascularization is less commonly used because plants rely on their own vascular tissues, xylem and phloem, for transport. Researchers more often discuss vascular differentiation or formation rather than vascularization, though establishing vascular tissue is a relevant concept in tissue culture, grafting, and developmental biology. See also angiogenesis, neovascularization, and vasculature.