Charting the course of blood flow: vessel-on-a-chip technologies in thrombosis studies

Abstract

Cardiovascular diseases, primarily driven by thrombosis, remain the leading cause of global mortality. Although traditional cell culture and animal models have provided foundational insights, they often fail to capture the complex pathophysiology of thrombosis, which hinders the development of targeted therapies for cardiovascular diseases. The advent of microfluidics and vascular tissue engineering has propelled the advancement of vessel-on-a-chip technologies, which enable the simulation of the key aspects of Virchow’s Triad: hypercoagulability, alteration in blood flow, and endothelial wall injury. With the ability to replicate patient-specific vascular architectures and hemodynamic conditions, vessel-on-a-chip models offer unprecedented insights into the mechanisms underlying thrombosis formation and progression. This review explores the evolution of microfluidic technologies in thrombosis research, highlighting breakthroughs in endothelialized devices and their roles in emulating conditions such as vessel stenosis, flow reversal, and endothelial damage. The limitations and challenges of the current vessel-on-a-chip systems are addressed, and future perspectives on the potential for personalized medicine and targeted therapies are presented. Vessel-on-a-chip technology holds immense potential for revolutionizing thrombosis research, enabling the development of targeted, patient-specific diagnostic tools and therapeutic strategies. Realizing this potential will require interdisciplinary collaboration and continued innovation in the fields of microfluidics and vascular tissue engineering.

Keywords

Microfluidics / thrombosis / mechanobiology / endothelialized / vessel-on-a-chip

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