Drug adhesion parallel plate flow chamber

Observation of molecular binding events under physiological conditions is a key component of validating targeted drug delivery vehicles or imaging agents. One of the major limitations in analyzing the mechanical influences on receptor binding is the inability to observe these interactions in-vivo due to the complexity of the human vasculature and the need for improved resolution in current imaging modalities. The goal of this project was to develop an in-vitro model which enables microscopic observation of molecular binding events under physiological flow conditions. A parallel-plate flow chamber (PPFC) was designed to simulate wall shear stress of the vasculature and to facilitate laminar, uniform, steady flow across its entire width. Major chamber components include an acrylic base, a silicone rubber gasket to define the shape of the flow region, and a glass microscope slide for the upper surface. The Drug Adhesion PPFC geometry was modeled in Pro-ENGINEER and CFD ACE simulation was used to verify and optimize dimensions prior to machining. A variable flow pump will be used to alter flow rates through the chamber corresponding to the physiological wall shear stress of various components of the vasculature. Fluorescent microscopy will be used to observe the binding of model protein-coated targeting beads to receptor proteins coated on microscope slides in order to validate the design as a viable means for studying drug adhesion in-vitro.