Issue 18, 2010

A microfluidic platform for probing small artery structure and function

Abstract

Although pathologic changes to the structure and function of small blood vessels are hallmarks of various cardiovascular diseases, limitations of conventional investigation methods (i.e. pressure myography) have prohibited a comprehensive understanding of the underlying mechanisms. We developed a microfluidic device to facilitate assessment of resistance artery structure and function under physiological conditions (37 °C, 45 mmHg transmural pressure). The platform allows for on-chip fixation, long-term culture and fully automated acquisition of up to ten dose–response sequences of intact mouse mesenteric artery segments (diameter ≈ 250 micrometres and length ≈ 1.5 mm) in a well-defined microenvironment. Even abluminal application of phenylephrine or acetylcholine (homogeneous condition) yielded dose–response relationships virtually identical to conventional myography. Unilateral application of phenylephrine (heterogeneous condition) limited constriction to the drug-exposed side, suggesting a lack of circumferential communication. The microfluidic platform allows us to address new fundamental biological questions, replaces a manually demanding procedure with a scalable approach and may enable organ-based screens to be routinely performed during drug development.

Graphical abstract: A microfluidic platform for probing small artery structure and function

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
25 Mar 2010
Accepted
14 Jun 2010
First published
06 Jul 2010

Lab Chip, 2010,10, 2341-2349

A microfluidic platform for probing small artery structure and function

A. Günther, S. Yasotharan, A. Vagaon, C. Lochovsky, S. Pinto, J. Yang, C. Lau, J. Voigtlaender-Bolz and S. Bolz, Lab Chip, 2010, 10, 2341 DOI: 10.1039/C004675B

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