Investigating the impact of microcalcification size and volume on collagenous matrix and tissue mechanics using a tissue-engineered atherosclerotic cap model.

ABSTRACT: Atherosclerotic plaque rupture can lead to thrombotic cardiovascular events such as stroke and myocardial infarction. Computational models have shown that microcalcifications (calcified particles with a diameter < 50 μm) in the atherosclerotic plaque cap can increase cap tissue stresses and consequently contribute to plaque rupture. Microcalcification characteristics, such as particle size and volume fraction, have been implicated to affect cap stresses. However, the effect of these characteristics on tissue mechanics within a collagenous matrix, has not been investigated experimentally. In this study, we employ a tissue-engineered model of the atherosclerotic plaque cap with human myofibroblasts to assess the impact of microcalcification size and volume fraction on cap mechanics and ruptu

SUBMITTER: Jansen IL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12405381 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature