Simultaneous measurement of wall shear stress distribution and three-dimensional shape of living endothelial cells cultured in microchannel

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, in order to investigate the relationship between response of ECs and shear stress caused by blood flow, a non-intrusive measurement method for shear stress distribution and topography of living ECs with subcellular resolution was developed based on velocity distributions measured by micro PIV (Particle Image Velocimetry) technique. ECs were cultured with higher shear stress stimulation in a straight microchannel with width of 400 μm and depth of 100 μm made from polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microchip. By optimizing cells cultured condition such as the liquid introduction method and the surface coating for enhancement of cell attachment on the microchannel wall, a cell culture method in the microchip with continuous shear stress stimulation was developed. Height and wall shear stress distributions of ECs cultured with shear stresses of 0.1 and 1.0 Pa were measured. The developed technique is useful to study relationships between wall shear stress distribution and transient morphological response in the living cells. © 2010 by JSME.