Clinical Research

The system uses a computer-controlled air pump for the long-term cultivation of endothelial cells under physiological conditions, enabling the simulation of blood flow typical of different vascular districts. The system is equipped with slides that allow for an optimal experimental setup across various types of assays, making it compatible with downstream analysis techniques such as high-resolution microscopy, Western blotting, and PCR. Major applications include the study of the mechanobiological responses of the endothelium, analysis of cellular signaling mechanisms in response to flow, and research into vascular diseases such as atherosclerosis and endothelial inflammation.

The images display human endothelial cells derived from umbilical vein cultured in the absence (A) and presence (B) of flow, highlighting how the latter induces cellular alignment characteristic of the response to the shear stress exerted by blood on the endothelium.