Detection of frequency-dependent endothelial response to oscillatory shear stress using a microfluidic transcellular monitor
Year: 2017
Type: article
Abstract: The endothelial microenvironment is critical in maintaining the health and function of the intimal layer in vasculature. In the context of cardiovascular disease (CVD), the vascular endothelium is the layer of initiation for the progression of atherosclerosis. While laminar blood flows are known to maintain endothelial homeostasis, disturbed flow conditions including those the endothelium experiences in the carotid artery are responsible for determining the fate of CVD progression. We present a microfluidic device designed to monitor the endothelium on two fronts: the real-time monitoring of the endothelial permeability using integrated electrodes and the end-point characterization of the endothelium through immunostaining. Our key findings demonstrate endothelial monolayer permeability and adhesion protein expression change in response to oscillatory shear stress frequency. These changes were found to be significant at certain frequencies, suggesting that a frequency threshold is needed to elicit an endothelial response. Our device made possible the real-time monitoring of changes in the endothelial monolayer and its end-point inspection through a design previously absent from the literature. This system may serve as a reliable research platform to investigate the mechanisms of various inflammatory complications of endothelial disorders and screen their possible therapeutics in a mechanistic and high-throughput manner.
Source: Scientific Reports
Language: English
Subfield: Cell Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,690
Funders: National Science Foundation, American Heart Association, Georgia Institute of Technology, Emory University, Atlanta Clinical and Translational Science Institute, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, National Institutes of Health, Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, College of Computing, National Institute of General Medical Sciences, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Division of Electrical, Communications and Cyber Systems
Awards: Cell and Tissue Engineering Training Program, Engineering of anti-miRNA Transporting HDL for Treating Endothelial Inflammation in Experimental Atherosclerosis, NNCI: Southeastern Nanotechnology Infrastructure Corridor (SENIC), Targeted delivery of a sonic hedgehog inhibitor for the study of medulloblastoma therapeutics
OpenAlex ID: W2745331910