Disturbed blood flow has been increasingly recognized for its critical role in platelet aggregation and thrombosis. Microfluidics with hump shaped contractions have been developed to mimic microvascular stenosis and recapitulate the prothrombotic effect of flow disturbance. However the physical determinants of microfluidic hemodynamics are not completely defined. Here, we report a refined computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation approach to map the shear rate (γ) and wall shear stress (τ) distribution in the stenotic region at high accuracy. Using ultra-fine meshing with sensitivity verification, our CFD results show that the stenosis level (S) is dominant over the bulk shear rate (γ0) and contraction angle (α) in determining γ and τ distribution at stenosis. In contrast, α plays a significant role in governing the shear rate gradient (γ′) distribution while it exhibits subtle effects on the peak γ. To investigate the viscosity effect, we employ a Generalized Power-Law model to simulate blood flow as a non-Newtonian fluid, showing negligible difference in the γ distribution when compared with Newtonian simulation with water medium. Together, our refined CFD method represents a comprehensive approach to examine microfluidic hemodynamics in three dimensions and guide microfabrication designs. Combining this with hematological experiments promises to advance understandings of the rheological effect in thrombosis and platelet mechanobiology.
Organ on Chips
In article number 2214179, Lining Arnold Ju and co‐workers, devised a novel, cost‐effective, and high‐throughput fabrication method for the creation of personalized vein‐chips, employing movable typing stereolithography and organ‐on‐chip technologies. This innovative chip accurately replicates an individual patient's unique anatomy and hemodynamics, thereby facilitating the investigation of clot formation in cerebral venous sinus thrombosis. The vein‐chip demonstrates significant potential for future personalized thrombotic assessment and monitoring.
The Vein‐Chip recapitulates CVST Virchow's triad and enables systematic characterization of venous thrombogenesis with respect to fibrin formation and platelet aggregation. Distinct from the arterial setting, platelets universally adhere across the entire CVS Vein‐Chip independent of stenotic geometry and flow disturbance. Intriguingly, fibrin propagates along with the flow direction, but exclusively deposits to the inner vessel wall. Upon inflammatory endothelial injury, fibrin deposition mirrors to the outer vessel wall, but still not in the lumen. Together, the Vein‐Chip promises future applications for personalized thrombotic assessment and monitoring.
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