Biomimetic Microfluidic Device for in Vitro Antihypertensive
Drug Evaluation
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Abstract
Microfluidic devices have emerged
as revolutionary, novel platforms
for in vitro drug evaluation. In this work, we developed a facile
method for evaluating antihypertensive drugs using a microfluidic
chip. This microfluidic chip was generated using the elastic material
poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) and a microchannel structure that simulated
a blood vessel as fabricated on the chip. We then cultured human umbilical
vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) inside the channel. Different pressures
and shear stresses could be applied on the cells. The generated vessel
mimics can be used for evaluating the safety and effects of antihypertensive
drugs. Here, we used hydralazine hydrochloride as a model drug. The
results indicated that hydralazine hydrochloride effectively decreased
the pressure-induced dysfunction of endothelial cells. This work demonstrates
that our microfluidic system provides a convenient and cost-effective
platform for studying cellular responses to drugs under mechanical
pressure