The stentable in vitro artery: an instrumented platform for endovascular device development and optimization

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Vascular Biology
• Medical Devices

Background:

• Vascular disease is a major cause of mortality.
• Existing in vitro tools lack physiological complexity for studying vascular processes.
• Controlled, quantitative studies of vascular biology are limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel in vitro artery model for controlled, quantitative vascular research.
• To create a platform for evaluating endovascular devices under physiological conditions.
• To enable real-time tracking of cellular responses and measurement of hemodynamic parameters.

Main Methods:

• Constructed a stentable in vitro artery with a collagen hydrogel wall, smooth muscle cells (SMCs), and an endothelial cell (EC) monolayer.
• Utilized in vivo dimensions and physiological flow conditions.
• Employed particle image velocimetry for flow velocity and shear stress measurement.
• Performed automated high-resolution live imaging of SMCs and ECs.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated proof-of-concept by imaging and quantifying EC wound healing and SMC motility.
• Measured altered shear stresses on the endothelium post-coronary stent deployment.
• Validated the system's ability to mimic in vivo vascular environments.

Conclusions:

• The stentable in vitro artery offers a unique platform for diverse research applications.
• This model can enhance understanding of endovascular device performance.
• Adoption of this system may reduce reliance on animal studies for vascular research.