Collagenous fibrous cap models to elucidate atherosclerotic plaque rupture
2022
Thoraxcenter Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
A significant amount of vascular thrombotic events are associated with the rupture of the fibrous cap that overlies atherosclerotic plaques. Cap rupture is however difficult to predict due to the heterogeneous composition of the plaque, unknown material properties, and the stochastic nature of the event. The aim of this study was to create tissue-engineered human fibrous cap models with a variable but controllable collagen composition, suitable for mechanical testing, to scrutinize the reciprocal relationships between composition and mechanical properties. Myofibroblasts, derived from human vena saphena cells, were cultured in fibrin-based constrained gels for 21 days according to established (dynamic) culture protocols (i.e. static, intermittent or continuous loading) to vary collagen composition (e.g. amount, type and organization). On day 7, a soft fibrin inclusion was introduced in the centre of each tissue to mimic the soft lipid core, simulating the heterogeneity of a plaque. Results demonstrate reproducible collagenous tissues, that mimic the bulk mechanical properties of human caps and vary in collagen composition due to the presence of a successfully integrated soft inclusion and the culture protocol applied. The models can be deployed to assess tissue mechanics, evolution and failure of fibrous caps or complex heterogeneous tissues in general.
Tissue-engineered collagenous fibrous cap models to systematically elucidate atherosclerotic plaque rupture
F. J. H. Gijsen
Added on: 12-15-2022
[1] https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-08425-4
