Development of cone and plate-type rheometer for quantitative analysis of endothelial cell detachment by shear stress

We developed an apparatus, which has a structure based on a cone and plate-type rheometer, to facilitate quantitative analysis of the detachment process of endothelial cells (EC) from diverse materials including 3-dimensional scaffolds such as plate, membrane and porous-shaped materials. As an artificial vascular model, a material inoculated with EC to a polycarbonate membrane coated with laminin was prepared. In consequence, reduced cell number, medium volume, and material size was enough to evaluate cell detachment from various materials by shear stress in our system. When shear stress was loaded to a material with EC, the ratio retained of initially inoculated cells decreased with time. Increase of magnitude of shear stress also decreased the ratio. We conclude that our apparatus could analyze quantitatively detachment of EC with ease for screenings to find materials that enhance adhesive force of EC. To produce artificial blood vessels with small diameter, our apparatus could become a useful instrument.