At Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, medical researchers are exploring a groundbreaking approach to understanding and preventing cardiovascular disease. Instead of relying solely on traditional methods like studying rat tissues or cultured heart cells, they are now using a newly developed microelectromechanical system (MEMS) microfluidic chip. This innovative tool is designed to replicate the complex conditions that lead to heart disease, offering a more accurate and efficient way to study its causes.
The chip is engineered to mimic the blood flow dynamics within arteries, particularly when fat and cholesterol build up on the inner walls, forming plaques. This process, known as atherosclerosis, can restrict blood flow and potentially cause heart attacks. What makes this technology stand out is its ability to simulate the inflammatory responses of cardiovascular cells, which play a critical role in the progression of the disease. By observing these reactions, scientists hope to develop strategies to suppress them, potentially preventing heart disease altogether.
In their experiments, researchers first used artificial blood to refine the flow pathways within the microfluidic "blood vessels." They then introduced real blood to test how the chip responds to inflammatory processes that could lead to heart attacks. The chip allows for close monitoring of endothelial cell behavior, giving the team a clearer insight than traditional methods involving cultured cells or animal models.
The goal of the research is to better understand and control vasoconstriction—narrowing of the blood vessels—that can trigger heart attacks. So far, the team has focused on modeling the biomechanics of cardiac blood flow and accurately replicating the shape and structure of the heart’s blood vessels to identify the root causes of blockages.
The chip consists of two stacked chambers separated by a flexible polymer membrane. The bottom chamber contains compressed air, while the top holds blood or a test fluid. To simulate real heart conditions, the researchers cultured endothelial cells from coronary veins to line the fluid-filled chamber. When air is pumped into the system, it pushes the membrane, mimicking blocked blood flow in an artery.
Through their work, the team discovered that as vascular occlusion worsens, endothelial cells release proteins that contribute to atherosclerosis. Using real blood simulations, immune cells accumulate more quickly, accelerating plaque formation in the arteries.
According to Han Weihou, the lead researcher, the chip's accuracy in replicating key heart disease indicators makes it an ideal platform for testing new treatments. Their findings were published in two articles: “Atherosclerosis-on-a-Chip: A Tunable 3D Stenotic Blood Vessel Microdevice†and “A tunable microfluidic 3D stenosis model to study leukocyte-endothelial interactions in atherosclerosis.†These studies highlight the potential of microfluidic chips to revolutionize cardiovascular research and improve patient outcomes.
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