Development of vessel mimicking microfluidic device for studying mechano-response of endothelial cells

• Published in: iScience 2023-06, Vol.26 (6), p.106927-106927, Article 106927
• Main Authors: Chu, Pei-Yu, Hsieh, Han-Yun, Chung, Pei-Shan, Wang, Pai-Wen, Wu, Ming-Chung, Chen, Yin-Quan, Kuo, Jean-Cheng, Fan, Yu-Jui
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biodevices; Bioengineering; Cardiovascular medicine
• ISSN: 2589-0042; 2589-0042
• DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.106927

The objective of this study is to develop a device to mimic a microfluidic system of human arterial blood vessels. The device combines fluid shear stress (FSS) and cyclic stretch (CS), which are resulting from blood flow and blood pressure, respectively. The device can reveal real-time observation of dynamic morphological change of cells in different flow fields (continuous flow, reciprocating flow and pulsatile flow) and stretch. We observe the effects of FSS and CS on endothelial cells (ECs), including ECs align their cytoskeleton proteins with the fluid flow direction and paxillin redistribution to the cell periphery or the end of stress fibers. Thus, understanding the morphological and functional changes of endothelial cells on physical stimuli can help us to prevent and improve the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. [Display omitted] •This study is to develop a microfluidic system mimicking arterial blood vessels•Cell behaviors in the system can be monitored in real time•The system mimics arterial environment including pulsatile flow and dynamic stretch•ECs align the cytoskeleton protein and paxillin redistribution under dynamic stretch Cardiovascular medicine; Biodevices; Bioengineering