MIMETAS, a leading organ-on-a-chip company, has announced the publication of a new peer-reviewed study that marks a major advance in cardiovascular disease research. The study, titled “Microfluidic artery-on-a-chip model with unidirectional gravity-driven flow for high-throughput applications”, presents a novel 3D model that closely mimics the structure and function of human arteries.
Addressing the Bottleneck in Cardiovascular Research
Cardiovascular disease remains the number one cause of death globally, yet drug development in this area faces ongoing challenges due to the limited predictive power of preclinical models. MIMETAS’ newly developed model offers a promising solution, using its proprietary UniFlow™ technology to replicate unidirectional blood flow in a gravity-driven setup, bringing physiological relevance to new heights.
Under these flow conditions, the model forms artery-like vessel structures with aligned endothelial cells, vascular relaxation, and predictable responses to inflammatory signals. This enables researchers to study the earliest changes linked to atherosclerosis and vascular inflammation.
Scalable, Automated, and Insightful
Unlike traditional microfluidic systems that rely on pumps, UniFlow™ uses an innovative rocking mechanism combined with capillary barriers to enable scalable and user-friendly operation. The technology integrates seamlessly with lab automation, supporting high-throughput drug screening without sacrificing biological accuracy.
One striking capability: the model can differentiate between healthy and diseased vascular states. Vessels under unidirectional flow maintain hallmarks of vascular health, while bidirectional conditions mimic dysfunction, including lipid accumulation and increased fibronectin secretion.
Broader Impact Across Therapeutic Areas
Currently integrated into a wide array of MIMETAS’ human 3D tissue models, spanning liver, lung, cancer, and CNS applications, UniFlow™ is available through the company’s service and partnership programs.
“This publication marks a huge step toward scalable, human-relevant models for cardiovascular research,” said Dr. Lenie van den Broek, Director of Biology Discovery at MIMETAS. “Our findings demonstrate the platform’s robustness in replicating arterial biology and its utility for therapeutic development.”
As a key innovator in the Leiden Bio Science Park community, MIMETAS continues to push the boundaries of organ-on-a-chip technology, driving human-relevant research forward from the heart of the Leiden Bio Science Park.
Read the full paper here: https://www.mimetas.com/en/news/890/new-study-on-3d-human-artery-model-with-unidirectional-flow.html
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