Selective Mineralization of Tough Hydrogel Lumens for Simulating Arterial Plaque

详细信息    查看全文

• 作者：Lihong Lao ; Sanlin S. Robinson ; Bryan Peele ; Huichan Zhao ; Benjamin C. Mac Murray ; James K. Min ; Bobak Mosadegh ; Simon Dunham and Robert F. Shepherd
• 刊名：Advanced Engineering Materials
• 出版年：2017
• 出版时间：January 2017
• 年：2017
• 卷：19
• 期：1
• 全文大小：1150K
• ISSN：1527-2648

文摘

This paper demonstrates progress of fabricating artificial arteries (phantoms) that mimic plaque buildup. Hydrogel lumens are molded using tough polyacrylamide with regions selectively mineralized with calcium phosphate. By tuning the degree of mineralization such as calcium concentration ([Ca²⁺], 0.4–2 M), and crystallization time (t_c, 1–4 weeks), the authors control the extent of lumen occlusion. These occluded lumens significantly reduce pressure (ΔP ≈ 7.79 kPa) during fluid flow compared to the non-calcified lumens (ΔP ≈ 1.24 kPa). Additionally, image, chemical analysis, and compressive mechanical tests are performed to determine the effect of synthesis conditions on the composite's mechanical properties. For comparison to real arteries, the authors also present dynamic mechanical analysis of human aortic tissue.