3D vascular system on chip for the study of atherosclerosis

In Canada, atherosclerosis is one of the leading cause of illness and death, accounting for 30% of all deaths and claimed approximately 70,000 lives in 2011. The hemodynamic conditions of arteries in general, and elevated... [ view full abstract ]

In Canada, atherosclerosis is one of the leading cause of illness and death, accounting for 30% of all deaths and claimed approximately 70,000 lives in 2011. The hemodynamic conditions of arteries in general, and elevated low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and low oxygen transfer to the artery wall in particular, are known as causes of atherosclerotic lesions leading to heart attacks and stroke. The plaque formation is more drastic at the bifurcation junction and in curved arteries. It is less clear whether abnormalities in mass transfer of oxygen are directly atherogenic, or whether LDL accumulation is secondary to low oxygen transfer as a primary atherogenic process.
To study atherosclerosis several models have been tried but ethical concerns with animal model and shortcomings of 2D invitro model in replicating the disease condition, computational model has been extensively used. We report a physiologically relevant model that can be used for recapitulating the disease condition. We have developed an endothelialized microfluidic chip which replicates 3D vascular system on a chip. This on-chip 3D network of parallel arteries and bifurcation junctions on a chip is used to test O2 diffusion and shear stress on the walls of the arteries in the chip. This chip is simulated for the flow rate, mass transfer and shear stress. Thus, both 3D vascular system on a chip experimental model and the simulation model assists in investigating endothelial permeability under fluid shear stress and the effect of abnormalities in oxygen transfer to the walls and at bifurcation junctions in the artery.