Velocity Measurement of In Vitro Blood Flow in Microchip Cultured Endothelial Cells

In order to investigate vascular diseases such as cause of atherosclerosis and myocardial infarction, relationships of endothelial cells (ECs) covered with surface blood vessels and blood flow stimulation have been experimentally studied. In the study, a blood vessel model for in vitro experiment made from polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microchip with a straight microchannel with 400 μm width and 100 μm depth was developed. By optimizing cells cultured condition such as the liquid introduction method and the surface coating for enhancement of cell attachment on the microchannel wall, cell culture method in the microchip were developed. Velocity distributions on the ECs surface in the blood vessel model were measured using micro PIV technique. Measured velocity vectors on the ECs surface were fluctuated caused by the three dimensional effect of the cell shape.