Rationale: Despite the preferred application of arterial conduits, the greater saphenous vein (SV) remains indispensable for coronary bypass grafting (CABG), especially in multi-vessel coronary artery disease (CAD). The objective of the present work was to address the role of mechanical forces in the activation of maladaptive vein bypass remodeling, a process determining progressive occlusion and recurrence of ischemic heart disease.

The development of innovative diagnostic tests is fundamental in the route towards malaria eradication. Here, we discuss the sorting capabilities of an innovative test for malaria which allows the quantitative and rapid detection of all malaria species. The physical concept of the test exploits the paramagnetic property of infected erythrocytes and hemozoin crystals, the magnetic fingerprints of malaria common to all species, which allows them to undergo a selective magnetophoretic separation driven by a magnetic field gradient in competition with gravity. Upon separation, corpuscles concentrate at the surface of a silicon microchip where interdigitated electrodes are placed in close proximity to magnetic concentrators. The impedance variation proportional to the amount of attracted particles is then measured. The capability of our test to perform the selective detection of infected erythrocytes and hemozoin crystals has been tested by means of capture experiments on treated bovine red blood cells, mimicking the behavior of malaria-infected ones, and suspensions of synthetic hemozoin crystals. Different configuration angles of the chip with respect to gravity force and different thicknesses of the microfluidic chamber containing the blood sample have been investigated experimentally and by multiphysics simulations. In the paper, we describe the optimum conditions leading to maximum sensitivity and specificity of the test.

Bicompartmental in vitro cultures are performed using culture inserts in multi‐well plates. The main challenge of these systems is sample retrieval, which potentially impacts the experimental outcomes. To overcome this challenge, we developed a novel cartridge‐based device called true‐tissue‐on‐platform (TTOP). Our device offers the same handling than multi‐well inserts with a key difference: the cartridge can be easily retrieved and reused without compromising sample morphology. The functionality of TTOP is demonstrated by building gut and vascular barrier in‐vitro models. Barrier tightness is assessed by measuring trans epithelial/endothelial electrical resistance (TEER) and permeability by Lucifer Yellow assay (LY). Geometry‐related effects on TEER are evaluated using a finite element model, comparing TTOP to conventional inserts, which showed an improvement in data robustness and accuracy. Moreover, the device enabled the detection of inflammation‐related changes by comparing untreated versus Tumor‐Necrosis‐Factor‐α‐treated cell barriers, revealing significant differences both with TEER and LY assays. Preliminary data on coupled gut/vascular barriers in the two compartments supported the feasibility of mimicking the gut–vascular barrier in vitro. This new cartridge‐based concept may provide a simple and modular device, accessible to any biological laboratory, enabling controlled handling of the biological samples during and after the experiment.

In vitro cell cultures represent a widespread methodology for pathophysiology studies with a high benefit/cost ratio. We have developed and are validating TToP, a novel, versatile, and scalable culture system allowing compartmentalized cell/tissue cultures with the aim of mimicking the human pathophysiological microenvironment of tissue barriers.

Our experience shows that using bioengineering approaches facilitates the understanding of vascular physio-pathological mechanisms and, in perspective, will speed up the development of new life-saving treatments. The use of human samples, particularly operating room-derived samples, which would have been otherwise discarded, is a very valuable approach. In line with the 3Rs principles, this methodology is worth the cost of being set up and managed, wherever and whenever possible