CAR-OAC · Carotid-artery-on-a-chip device to model thromboembolisms induced by vascular lesions and perform drug screenings
Horizon 2020 — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
- Duration
- 2020-02-17 → 2022-02-16
- EU contribution
- €196,708
- Participants
- 1
- Scheme
- MSCA-IF
Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.
Results in brief
Carotid-artery-on-a-chip device to model thromboembolisms induced by vascular lesions and perform drug screenings
Stroke remains the second leading cause of mortality, the third leading reason for disability, and a top contributor to dementia and depression globally with insufficient preventative measures existing. Microfluidic arterial models of developing atherosclerosis can provide a platform for investigating pharmaceutical interventions without ethically questionable sacrifice of laboratory animals or human trials. The main objective of the project was to produce a representative carotid artery model and to determine the compatibility and sustainability of the interactions between synthetic and biological materials. Following the establishment of the model, the biological cues released by endothelial and blood cells within the device were to be analysed. The results would have been compared to published data from control human carotid arteries to determine whether the constructed model gives comparable results and is therefore capable to reproduce the natural environment of the cells. As a further step in the development of the model, smooth muscle cells and fibroblasts would have been added to the wall surface and lipid-filled lipocytes would have been included to mimic an atherosclerotic lesion within the system.
Data: CORDIS, © European Union
Project objective
This project will be focused on designing a microfluidic device to visualize haemodynamics within a carotid-artery mimetic device. The system will be designed to evaluate associations especially between fibrinogen, erythrocytes, and platelets when subjected to shear and coagulation-inducing factors. The design will include biologically and mechanically variable properties as may occur in transient ischaemic attacks (TIA). The intended system is to have similar composition and dimensions as the extra-cranial (common to internal) carotid arteries. Physiologically relevant dimensions will be implemented where the common artery will have a lumen diameter of 6.1 mm with variable thickness (0.6 to 0.9 mm), whereas the internal artery will be 4.7 mm in diameter with thickness of 0.7mm. The system will be equipped with pressure and stretch-inducing mechanics which can be modulated to trigger rheological and biological responses. Specifically, stretching will cause exposure of tissue factor and lipids, capable of triggering inflammatory coagulation. The proximal formation of biological or physical occlusions will be assessed using this device. Also, the design will enable visualization of intra-vascular activity as may be illustrated in live high-resolution confocal microscopy. Flow properties of liquids with varied rheological properties similar to blood will be tested. Clinicians and researchers studying the pathology of strokes and TIAs or conducting studies on intravascular thrombosis will be able to engage this device in experiments while pharmaceutical developers will be able to engage the device in testing actions of therapeutic agents.Stroke remains the second leading cause of death globally and through the development of this device, both developers and potential users of the device will be able to explore effective and applicable solutions. Elvesys will avail the researcher an enriching environment to master IP, marketing concepts, patenting and public engagement.
Original text from CORDIS.
Participants
- ELVESYS · PARISCoordinatorFrance
Links
- View on CORDIS
- DOI: 10.3030/843279
- https://www.elveflow.com/microfluidics-research-horizon-europe/european-projects/carotid-artery-on-chip-as-medical-device-vascular-diseases/
Data: CORDIS, © European Union