Soft robotic platform for progressive and reversible aortic constriction in a small-animal model

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Research
• Biomedical Engineering
• Animal Models

Background:

• Cardiac remodeling due to left ventricular pressure overload is primarily studied using animal models.
• Existing models lack control over disease progression and reversal, limiting clinical relevance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a progressive and reversible aortic banding model in rats.
• To enable fine-tuned control over pressure overload and its reversal for studying cardiac remodeling.

Main Methods:

• Utilized an implantable expandable actuator for precise aortic banding and debanding in rats.
• Employed catheterization, advanced imaging, and histological analysis to assess hemodynamic and structural changes.
• Leveraged soft robotics for noninvasive aortic debanding.

Main Results:

• The developed platform successfully recapitulated hemodynamic and structural changes of pressure overload in a controlled manner.
• Demonstrated partial reversal of cardiac remodeling through noninvasive debanding, indicating the impact of biomechanical stimulus cessation.
• Validated the model's ability to track longitudinal disease progression and reversibility.

Conclusions:

• This novel animal model provides unprecedented control over cardiac pressure overload and its reversal.
• It serves as a valuable tool for elucidating fundamental mechanisms of cardiac remodeling.
• The model can optimize the timing and strategy for interventions in pressure overload conditions.