Advances in microfluidic endothelium-on-chip for assessing endothelial function.

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Vascular Biology
• Regenerative Medicine

Background:

• Vascular interventions can harm the endothelial glycocalyx and junction proteins, leading to thrombosis and increased permeability.
• Animal models for evaluating drug-coated implants show limitations due to species-specific differences in healing responses.
• Accurate prediction of late vascular complications requires better in vitro models that mimic human physiology.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review advances in microfluidic endothelium-on-chip platforms for evaluating vascular biomaterials.
• To highlight the potential of these systems in assessing endothelial function and vascular risks.
• To bridge the gap between animal studies and human clinical outcomes for endovascular implants.

Main Methods:

• Development of microfluidic platforms that replicate in vivo vascular environments.
• Integration of human-derived cells to create functionalized endothelium-on-chip models.
• Replication of physiologically relevant blood-flow patterns and intercellular crosstalk.

Main Results:

• Microfluidic platforms provide physiologically relevant in vitro vascular models.
• Endothelium-on-chip technology with human cells offers biologically relevant vascular assessments.
• These systems can provide critical data to complement animal study findings.

Conclusions:

• Microfluidic endothelium-on-chip platforms represent a significant advancement for evaluating vascular interventions.
• These models can accurately assess endothelial function, hyperpermeability, and thrombogenesis risks.
• They offer a valuable tool for the early stages of drug-coated endovascular implant development.