Design and use of an environmental control platform for studying vascular cell function in three-dimensional scaffolds

Endothelial and smooth muscle cells are the core of the vascular system. Vessels are created and repaired through the processes of angiogenesis and arteriogenesis. Endothelial cells are the initial cells that migrate and proliferate during the process, followed by smooth muscle cell movement and differentiation. The recruitment of smooth muscle cells is not fully understood, and if understood would unlock a crucial step in the growth and remodeling of vessels. Endothelial and smooth muscle cells have been extensively studied in two dimensional models and the physiologic factors that affect their function and survival have been well documented. In living organisms, vascular tissue, consisting primarily of endothelial and smooth muscle cells, grows in three dimensions where it is constantly exposed to biochemical and biomechanical stimuli. Thus, a controllable three dimensional environment is desired to study these interactions. The cells do not move instantaneously or in direct paths, hence, it is beneficial to be able to study the cells at multiple time points and over long periods of time. Most in vitro studies have not been conducted for more than 100 hours, while in vivo experiments have been continued for months.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Mechanical Engineering.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2007

Author dc:creator

• Jäätmaa, Iliana (Iliana Nicole Vera)

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Roger D. Kamm.

• Mechanical Engineering.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/40446

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/40446