Technologies

Invention Description:

The subject invention describes a bioreactor that mimics, controls, and optimizes the mechanical loading and the physical properties of a range of native and engineered vascular tissues. It collects real-time mechanical and geometric data while enabling the tunability and optimization of signals including, but not limited to, flow-induced wall shear, intramural stress, and transmural stress or strain objectives.

Background:

While theoretical andin vivoexperimental studies of arterial remodeling have significantly advanced the understanding of normal vascular physiology and the genesis and progression of certain disease states,ex vivomodel systems that facilitate these findings into commercial biotechnologies fall short. Existingex vivovascular perfusion systems fail to replicate thein vivomechanical conditions created through pulsatile hemodynamics or incapable of sustained culture periods.

This device reproduces thein vivomechanical state to which vascular cells are locally subjected (characterized by wall stresses and strains), as opposed to the traditional approach of controlling mechanical loading parameters (characterized by internal pressure and axial force).