Detection assays for vasculogenesis and angiogenesis

The design and synthesis of biomaterials capable of affecting neovascularization have now formed as a big part of biomedicine. Therefore, researchers and scientists must have the necessary information about the pro- or antiangiogenic capacity of prepared substances before further applications. To date, various in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo assays have been designed and developed for determining the angiogenic activity of biomolecules and biomaterials applied for biomedical strategies. Most of these assays rely on evaluating of behaviors of endothelial cells (ECs) in response to developed biomolecules and biomaterials since ECs play central roles in the vasculogenesis and angiogenesis process. As a fact of the matter, the proliferation rate, migration ability, and the tube formation potential of ECs may be altered after being imposed on pro- or antiangiogenic substances. Generally, in vitro assays evaluate a specific event (e.g., ECs’ proliferation) that happens during neovascularization and are useful for early detection of the process. On the other hand, ex vivo assays imitate in vivo conditions due to possessing pericytes and smooth muscle cells in addition to ECs as well as a surrounding matrix. Applying in vivo assays provides the opportunity to obtain more accurate and precise data similar to events that happen in a living organism. In this chapter, we aim to introduce the most commonly used in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo detection assays for vasculogenesis and angiogenesis as well as discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each method in detail.