Vasculature-on-a-chip with stretchable sensor for recapitulating hemodynamics and electrochemical monitoring of endothelium

Vascular endothelium can perceive fluid shear stress (FSS) and cyclic circumferential stretch (CCS) caused by the pulsatile blood flow, and translate the hemodynamics into biochemical signals to regulate vascular pathophysiology. However, existing methods provide little information about the real-time biochemical responses of endothelium when exposed to dynamic FSS and CCS. Herein, a vasculature-on-a-chip integrated with stretchable sensing is engineered for recapitulating the hemodynamic milieus and in-situ monitoring biochemical responses of endothelial monolayer. The integrated device is developed by sandwiching a robust stretchable electrode between an upper fluidic channel and a lower pneumatic channel. The fluidic and pneumatic channels enable the simultaneous recapitulation of both FSS and CCS, and the integrated sensor exhibits excellent cell-adhesive capacity and electrochemical sensing stability even after long-term hemodynamic exposure. These allow real-time monitoring of hemodynamic form- and duration-dependent endothelium responses, and further efficacy investigation about a recommended drug for COVID-19, demonstrating the great potential in vascular disease and drug screening.