Endothelial Cell Permeability and Alignment Quantification Under Shear Flow

Atherosclerosis develops when a breach in the protective endothelium allows macrophages and fatty lipids to enter into the intima. Atherosclerotic plaque material can harden the vessel or constrict blood flow through the vessel. In some cases, the plaque can detach and initiate a cardiac event (1). Hemodynamic shear can act as a mechanical factor that regulates the endothelial barrier by initiating a cellular mechanotransduction response that remodels the structure of individual endothelial cells (2).