Yuan, L.; Li, Y.; Liu, Z.; Xue, C.; Chen, D.; Qin, K. Microfluidic Channel for Simulating Wall Shear Stress Waveforms in Carotid Bifurcation Blood Flow. Preprints2024, 2024021333. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202402.1333.v1
APA Style
Yuan, L., Li, Y., Liu, Z., Xue, C., Chen, D., & Qin, K. (2024). Microfluidic Channel for Simulating Wall Shear Stress Waveforms in Carotid Bifurcation Blood Flow. Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202402.1333.v1
Chicago/Turabian Style
Yuan, L., Dong Chen and Kai-Rong Qin. 2024 "Microfluidic Channel for Simulating Wall Shear Stress Waveforms in Carotid Bifurcation Blood Flow" Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202402.1333.v1
Abstract
Wall Shear Stress (WSS) abnormalities in carotid artery blood flow are key hemodynamic factors leading to arterial endothelial damage, atherosclerotic plaque formation, and carotid artery stenosis. Precise simulation of carotid artery blood flow WSS in vitro play an important role in understanding the underlying hemodynamic mechanism of carotid artery stenosis. This study presents a design for a microfluidic cell culture chamber with a variable cross-section and a step structure, leveraging microfluidic technology and principles of fluid dynamics. We propose an optimization strategy for microchannel dimensions based on Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations. This strategy aims to replicate the distinct WSS waveform features found at various locations within the carotid bifurcation as observed in vivo. Our simulations indicate that with a step height of 0.09 mm, a width of 4 mm for the initial segment, and 5 mm for the subsequent wider channel, the device can effectively model the characteristics of low oscillatory WSS seen at sites of carotid sinus stenosis. Furthermore, it accurately represents the high-magnitude pulsatile WSS waveforms in the more uniform arterial sections downstream of the carotid sinus. The study also reveals that vortex formation and variations in low oscillatory WSS within the stepped section of the microchannel correlate with the step's height and width, as well as with the dimensions of the wider channel section. An increase in step width leads to a decrease in both the vortex area and the magnitude of negative WSS oscillations. When the step height is less than 0.03 mm, vortex formation is inhibited, challenging the simulation of low oscillatory WSS patterns. The variable cross-section microfluidic channel developed in this study provides a platform for simulating carotid artery WSS waveforms and facilitates research into the interplay between low oscillatory WSS at sites of carotid sinus stenosis and arterial endothelial dysfunction.
Copyright:
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