Introduction: Cerebral aneurysms form due to complex interactions between hemodynamic shear stress and inflammation. Current in vivo models are costly and time consuming, while described in vitro models lack the complexity of in vivo systems. We set out to develop an advanced, multi-lumen flow chamber bio-reactor that would allow for inflammatory, endothelial, and smooth muscle cell interactions to study cerebral aneurysm formation.
Methods: We used rapid 3D printing to design a multi-lumen flow chamber bioreactor. The device components were validated and then manufactured using industrial polycarbonate and silicone. Human endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells were then plated on semi-permeable membrane under sterile conditions. The endothelial lumen was then exposed to pulsatile flow at wall shear stress of 10 dynes/cm2. Membranes with cells exposed to flow were then examined using H&E and immunohistochemistry.
Results: Rapid prototyping is an efficient method in development of next generation bioreactor to study cerebral aneurysm formation. Semi-permeable membrane allows for separation of endothelial and smooth muscle cell populations, while allowing for cell-to-cell communication and inflammatory cell interaction.
Conclusions: We used rapid prototyping and 3-D printing to design and manufacture an advanced multi-lumen flow chamber bioreactor for study of inflammatory interactions in cerebral aneurysm formation. This device allows for sampling of individual cell populations and high-throughout discovery of inflammatory factors involved in this disease process.
Patient Care: It will allow for development of drug therapies aimed at treatment of cerebral aneurysms. We also hope our research will allow us to find markers of cerebral aneurysm formation.
Learning Objectives: A next-generation, multi-lumen flow chamber bio-reactor can be used to study advanced inflammatory cell-vascular cell interactions in cerebral aneurysm formation.