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Microfluidic models of the human circulatory system: versatile platforms for exploring mechanobiology and disease modeling

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Abstract

The human circulatory system is a marvelous fluidic system, which is very sensitive to biophysical and biochemical cues. The current animal and cell culture models do not recapitulate the functional properties of the human circulatory system, limiting our ability to fully understand the complex biological processes underlying the dysfunction of this multifaceted system. In this review, we discuss the unique ability of microfluidic systems to recapitulate the biophysical, biochemical, and functional properties of the human circulatory system. We also describe the remarkable capacity of microfluidic technologies for exploring the complex mechanobiology of the cardiovascular system, mechanistic studying of cardiovascular diseases, and screening cardiovascular drugs with the additional benefit of reducing the need for animal models. We also discuss opportunities for further advancement in this exciting field.

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Acknowledgements

E.P. acknowledges the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) for funding “The Australian Centre for Electromagnetic Bioeffects Research” (APP1135076). K.P. acknowledges the NHMRC for a L3 Investigator Fellowship support (GNT1174098). S.B. acknowledges the Australian Research Council (ARC) for Discovery Grants (DE170100239 and DP200101248). K.K. acknowledges the ARC for Discovery Grant (DP180102049).

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Author notes

  1. Sara Baratchi and Khashayar Khoshmanesh contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia

    Ngan Nguyen, Peter Thurgood, Sheng Chen, Elena Pirogova & Khashayar Khoshmanesh

  2. School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Bundoora, Australia

    Nadia Chandra Sekar & Sara Baratchi

  3. Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Australia

    Karlheinz Peter

  4. Department of Cardiometabolic Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia

    Karlheinz Peter

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  1. Ngan Nguyen
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  2. Peter Thurgood
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  4. Sheng Chen
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N.N., P.T., N.C.S., and S.C. wrote the manuscript; E.P., S.B., and K.K. supervised the students; E.P., K.P., S.B., and K.K. generated the idea and wrote, reviewed, and edited the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Sara Baratchi or Khashayar Khoshmanesh.

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Nguyen, N., Thurgood, P., Sekar, N.C. et al. Microfluidic models of the human circulatory system: versatile platforms for exploring mechanobiology and disease modeling. Biophys Rev 13, 769–786 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12551-021-00815-8

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