College - Author 1

College of Engineering

Department - Author 1

Biomedical Engineering Department

Degree Name - Author 1

BS in Biomedical Engineering

Date

10-2022

Primary Advisor

Trevor Cardinal, College of Engineering, Biomedical Engineering Department

Abstract/Summary

Peripheral Arterial Disease involves narrowed arteries, reducing blood flow to limbs. Increasing blood flow to those extremities is possible by redirecting the blood to flow through natural bypasses (i.e. collateral arteries), which can enlarge via arteriogenesis to maintain blood supply once the prominent arteries have become occluded. This study aims to investigate how arteriogenesis affects collateral function, if myoblast transplantation can stimulate collateral growth, and how that in turn may affect collateral function. Femoral artery ligation was performed to mimic the blockage that occurs in patients with ischemic diseases on lean mice and mice with diet induced obesity (DIO). A bioprinted polymer containing cells, or no cells, was then placed deep to the primary collateral artery. Seven days post-surgery, the collateral bypass artery was exposed and prepared for imaging. To quantify the functionality of the collaterals, photomicrographs of the collaterals were captured from both the operated and control hindlimb at rest and following muscle contraction via electrical stimulation. Results showed that arteriogenesis occurred in lean mice and mice with DIO. Myoblasts decreased resting and dilated diameter in mice with DIO as compared to vehicle control, meanwhile myoblasts increased resting and dilated diameters in lean mice as compared to vehicle control. The percent difference between resting and functionally vasodilated collaterals was measured to evaluate myoblast impact on collateral vasodilation following arteriogenesis. It was found that myoblasts did not make more arteriogenesis, but appeared to accelerate vessel maturation. This line of research can ultimately lead to the development of an alternative, minimally invasive, therapy to treat patients with ischemic diseases that would benefit from natural bypass enlargement and function.

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