The mechanisms behind cardiovascular disease (CVD) initiation and progression are not fully elucidated. It is hypothesized that blood flow patterns regulate endothelial cell (EC) function to affect the progression of CVDs. A system that subjects ECs to physiologically-relevant shear stress waveforms within microfluidic devices has not yet been demonstrated, despite the advantages associated with the use of these devices. In this work, a bioreactor was designed to fulfill this need. Waveforms from regions commonly affected by CVDs including were derived. Pump motion and fluid flow profiles were validated by actuator motion tracking, particle image velocimetry, and flowmeters. While several relevant waveforms were successfully replicated, physiological waveforms could not be produced at physiological frequencies owing to actuator velocity and accuracy limitations, as well as dampening effects in the system. Overall, this work lays the foundation for designing a system that provides insight into the role of shear stress in CVD pathogenesis.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:TORONTO/oai:tspace.library.utoronto.ca:1807/65572 |
| Date | 26 June 2014 |
| Creators | Lightstone, Noam S. |
| Contributors | Simmons, Craig A., Santerre, J. Paul |
| Source Sets | University of Toronto |
| Language | en_ca |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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