Perfusion Flow Chamber(1)

With cardiovascular diseases leading the world in deaths, research has turned its attention to focus on how impacts on endothelial cells (EC’s) correlate to these complications. Research has found a significant correlation between shear stress (the force imposed by blood flow on EC’s), tensile strain (force imposed on EC’s mechanically), and endothelial dysfunction, which eventually gives rise to cardiovascular complications. Previous research has used a perfusion flow chamber to analyze the dysfunction caused by stress, but each design had its limitations, including the absence of an open system. Our project designs an open system microfluidic chip with a glass channel that will culture umbilical cord endothelial cells. With the addition of a piston and a liquid pump, we are able to control shear stress and tensile strain. Our schematic utilizes the limitations of previous research in a simple, compact, and efficient model to enhance the research being done in the field of cardiology and fluid biomechanics.