biostudies-literatureWissing TBDutch Research Council (NWO)5434https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC8971478biostudies-literatureUnknown12(1)A significant amount of vascular thrombotic events are associated with rupture of the fibrous cap that overlie atherosclerotic plaques. Cap rupture is however difficult to predict due to the heterogenous composition of the plaque, unknown material properties, and the stochastic nature of the event. Here, we aim to create tissue engineered human fibrous cap models with a variable but controllable collagen composition, suitable for mechanical testing, to scrutinize the reciprocal relationships between composition and mechanical properties. Myofibroblasts were cultured in 1 × 1.5 cm-sized fibrin-based constrained gels for 21 days according to established (dynamic) culture protocols (i.e. static, intermittent or continuous loading) to vary collagen composition (e.g. amount, type and organizatiScientific reportsTissue-engineered collagenous fibrous cap models to systematically elucidate atherosclerotic plaque rupture.PMC8971478024.003.01318360Van der Heiden KSmits AIPMGijsen FJHSerra SMWissing TBBouten CVCfalseTissue-engineered collagenous fibrous cap models to systematically elucidate atherosclerotic plaque rupture.A significant amount of vascular thrombotic events are associated with rupture of the fibrous cap that overlie atherosclerotic plaques. Cap rupture is however difficult to predict due to the heterogenous composition of the plaque, unknown material properties, and the stochastic nature of the event. Here, we aim to create tissue engineered human fibrous cap models with a variable but controllable collagen composition, suitable for mechanical testing, to scrutinize the reciprocal relationships between composition and mechanical properties. Myofibroblasts were cultured in 1 × 1.5 cm-sized fibrin-based constrained gels for 21 days according to established (dynamic) culture protocols (i.e. static, intermittent or continuous loading) to vary collagen composition (e.g. amount, type and organizati2022-01-01T00:00:00Z2022 Mar2025-04-04T19:10:29.907Z2025-04-04T19:10:29.907ZS-EPMC89714783536184710.1038/s41598-022-08425-4