Cotton Candy Helps Make Artificial Blood Vessels

Vanderbilt University mechanical engineer Leon Bellan is working to create artificial human capillary blood vessels using cotton candy and gelatin. His goal is for researchers to use these man-made capillaries to help keep artificial organs and other tissues alive, which could dramatically impact the field of regenerative medicine.

Cotton Candy and Artificial Blood Vessels

Vanderbilt University

1/10th the size of a human hair

Vanderbilt University

Bellan’s lab grows endothelial cells with the goal of implanting them into the artificial channels. But, like real capillaries, the artificial blood vessels are minuscule, about 1/10 the size of a human hair. This makes the next step of lining the artificial channels with real human cells extremely challenging.

Dr. Cotton Candy

Vanderbilt University

Bellan has been surrounded by cotton candy for most of his career. So what does he really think about the pink stuff?

“I think it’s actually kind of disgusting to eat, but I don’t mind being associated with cotton candy forever. Hopefully I’ll do something else that’s interesting and unique in the future as well, but I’ll take cotton candy for now.”