Stimulation of vascular cells by extracellular signals - A biophysical analysis

Stimulation of vascular cells by extracellullar signals Treatment of vascular diseases often requires the selective addressing of endothelial (ECs) and smooth muscle cells (SMCs). The two vascular cell types are important for the wound healing after stent implantation. Recent research designs new materials and coatings for stents to improve the complex healing process. The aim of my work was to find and investigate different reactions in the two vascular cell types (ECs and SMCs) through surface chemistry, topography and other stimulating factors like electrical fields or applied external stretching forces. On various iridium-oxide stent coatings ECs seem to be more sensitive to chemical differences than SMCs. On PDMS micro-nano-grooves ECs and SMCs align not significant differently to the structure. Cell assays on nano-structured and bio-functionalized surfaces reveal a universal ligand distance dependency for both cell types. Upon application of uniaxial mechanical stretch or an directed electrical field, ECs and SMCs show significant different responses. General characteristics of the two cell types can be quantitatively described by an automatic controller model. These findings are promising for further studies to improve wound healing after implantation and even more to allow the artificial generation of new blood vessels (angiogenesis).