Artery-on-a-chip predicts stroke risk

Researchers at the University of Sydney, in collaboration with the Heart Research Institute, developed an artery-on-a-chip platform that replicates a patient's specific carotid artery geometry and blood flow dynamics, termed a 'physical twin.' The device, described in a study published in Cell Biomaterials on July 23, uses computational fluid dynamics and living human cells to model clot formation and embolization. Reconstructing arteries from six patients with varying disease, the team found that three-dimensional vascular shape and local flow disturbances are stronger determinants of stroke risk than simple narrowing. The platform aims to improve prediction of ischemic stroke risk, especially for patients classified as low-risk who still suffer severe strokes. The researchers are recruiting patients for a clinical trial to evaluate the technology's benefit for underserved stroke patients, and they believe it could also be applied to other cardiovascular conditions such as peripheral artery disease, deep-vein thrombosis, and aneurysms. The study was supported by several Australian funding bodies including the United Kingdom — Medical Research Council.