In this thesis, I present a microfluidic platform that enables automated image-based assessment of biological structure and function. My work focuses on assessing intact resistance arteries from the mouse cerebral vascular bed with a diameter of approximately 120µm in vitro. The experimental platform consists of a microfluidic device and a world-to-chip fluidic interconnect that minimizes unwanted dead volumes and eliminates the need for any liquid-filled peripheral equipment. The integrated platform is computer controlled and capable of fully automated operation once a small blood vessel segment is loaded onto the chip. Robust operation of the platform was demonstrated through a series of case studies that assessed small artery function and changes therein induced by incubation with the drug nifedipine, a dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker. In addition artery segments were stained for L-type calcium channels, F-actin and nuclei, from which structural information about cell alignment and shape was quantified.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:TORONTO/oai:tspace.library.utoronto.ca:1807/32504 |
| Date | 24 July 2012 |
| Creators | Yasotharan, Sanjesh |
| Contributors | Guenther, Axel |
| Source Sets | University of Toronto |
| Language | en_ca |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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