Engineering Research Equipment: Tissue and Cellular Engineering Laboratory

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9622411 Moore This proposal supports the purchase of tissue and cellular engineering equipment which will be dedicated to support research in engineering at Florida International University. The equipment will be used for several research projects, including in particular a study entitled "Flow and Stretch Effects on Vascular Endothelial Cells." This project aims to quantitatively identify how the mechanical environment in arteries affects the formation of atherosclerosis. The cells that line the inner surfaces of arteries are subjected to both shear stress from the flow of blood, and the circumferential stress that results from the radial expansion of the artery during heart contraction. Previous research has concentrated on either shear stress or radial expansion, but not both. In this research, cells will be cultured onto the inner surfaces of tubes which behave mechanically like arteries, then subjected to realistic mechanical conditions including both shear stress and radial expansion. The secretion of substances thought to be important in the formation of atherosclerosis will be measured using modern biological techniques. Other projects directed by the principal investigator that will benefit from this equipment include flow studies in the coronary arteries and flow analysis of vascular stents. Within the PI's department, there are at least five other projects that will be able to make use of the proposed equipment. ***