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Development Of A Dynamic In Vitro Model Of A Stented Blood Vessel To Evaluate The Effects Of Stent Strut Material Selection And Surface Coating On Smooth Muscle Cell Response, Bradley Winn
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Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of mortality in The United States and Europe, accounting for approximately half of all deaths. The most common form of cardiovascular disease is atherosclerosis, which is characterized by the formation of fatty atheromatous plaques that can grow to occlude the vessel lumen, thus causing ischemia distal to the occlusion. This is commonly treated using balloon angioplasty, which is usually done in conjunction with the deployment of a stent. Stent deployment helps hold the vessel open following the local injury caused by balloon inflation and prevents elastic recoil and subsequent negative remodeling. Stenting has been …
Characterization Of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Mechanical And Frictional Properties Using Atomic Force Microscopy, Jason Hemmer
Characterization Of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Mechanical And Frictional Properties Using Atomic Force Microscopy, Jason Hemmer
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A working hypothesis within the Laboratory of Vascular Research is that mechanical loading on vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), especially due to solid contact from endovascular devices, contributes to the development of restenosis. In order to better understand the role of mechanical loading on VSMCs in vascular disease development, it is imperative to understand the mechanical properties of VSMCs themselves. To measure the viscoelastic and frictional properties of living VSMCs in an in vitro setting, an atomic force microscope (AFM) was utilized, thereby allowing for mechanical testing of living cells in a fluid environment. In the first phase of research, …