Abstract
We developed a microfluidic device for cyclic stretching culture of cells to mimic blood vessels [1]. We found that pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) aligned their axes perpendicular to the direction of stretch in this device. This orientation is different from circumferential alignment of smooth muscle cell (SMC) layer in the tunica media, the middle layer of a blood vessel. To solve this problem, a microfluidic device with a stretching polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) membrane having ridge/groove micropatterns as a cell culture substrate was developed. PASMCs successfully aligned their axes parallel to the direction of stretch (circumferential direction) in the device.