Recent Progress in in vitro Models for Atherosclerosis Studies

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Cardiovascular Research
• Cell Biology

Background:

• Atherosclerosis, characterized by arterial hardening and narrowing, is a major cause of mortality.
• Effective treatments for atherosclerosis necessitate robust in vitro models.
• In vitro models offer advantages over animal models in terms of efficiency and cost.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent advancements in in vitro models for atherosclerosis research.
• To cover both traditional 2D and emerging 3D in vitro models.
• To discuss the functions and future perspectives of these models.

Main Methods:

• Review of traditional 2D in vitro models (tissue culture plates, cell sheets).
• Discussion of advanced 2D microfluidic chip models.
• Exploration of emerging 3D in vitro models (spheroids, hydrogels, engineered vessels, vessel-on-a-chip).

Main Results:

• Atherosclerosis research benefits from diverse in vitro models.
• 2D models provide a foundational approach.
• 3D models, including microfluidic and organ-on-a-chip systems, offer enhanced complexity and physiological relevance.

Conclusions:

• In vitro models are crucial for advancing atherosclerosis research and treatment development.
• The field is rapidly evolving with the introduction of sophisticated 3D and microfluidic systems.
• Future research should focus on further refining these models for greater predictive power.