Bio-MEMS sensors for real-time shear stress on endothelial cell dynamics

Abstract

Precise characterization of shear stress in the arterial trees is critical to elucidate the effects of spatial versus temporal shear stress gradients on the biological activities of endothelial cells (EC). We developed micro electrical mechanical systems (MEMS) sensors, comparable to the size of EC (2 /spl times/ 80 /spl mu/m), to deliver the spatial and temporal resolution necessary at a frequency response > 100 Hz. We provided the first in vitro evidence of real-time wall shear stress on EC couple with real-time gene expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP-1).