In-vitro study of arterial vessel stiffness on wall shear stress reversal under physiological pulsatile flow conditions

This study investigates the impact of arterial stiffness on wall shear stress (WSS) reversal, a critical factor in vascular health and disease. The cardiovascular system's endothelial cells respond to mechanical stimuli, such as WSS, which influences vascular remodeling and the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. Our hypothesis posits that increased arterial stiffness exacerbates WSS reversal, potentially affecting endothelial cell behavior. To test this, we conducted in-vitro experiments using transparent elastic tubings with varying stiffness to simulate arteries. A gear pump generated pulsatile flow, and 2D particle image velocimetry (PIV) was employed to measure velocity fields and calculate WSS. Our findings confirm that stiffer arteries lead to greater WSS reversal, highlighting the mechanobiological pathways linking arterial stiffness to vascular disease. The study also demonstrates that softer arteries dampen flow pulsatility, reducing the magnitude and duration of negative WSS. These results have significant implications for understanding the mechanistic pathways of vascular diseases and developing therapeutic strategies to mitigate the adverse effects of arterial stiffness. Future research should delve into the molecular mechanisms underlying endothelial responses to WSS reversal and explore potential interventions to preserve vascular health in the context of arterial stiffness. This work contributes to the growing body of evidence emphasizing the importance of mechanical forces in vascular biology and offers insights into the relationship between arterial stiffness and endothelial function. • In-vitro study in elastic blood vessels under physiological pulsatile conditions. • Used PIV to study the effects of arterial stiffness on flow and WSS. • Stiffer artery exacerbates WSS reversal, potentially affect vascular health. • Softer artery dampens flow pulsatility, reducing WSS magnitude and reversal.