# A 3D Composite Model Using Electrospinning Technology to Study Endothelial Damage

## TL;DR

This paper describes a 3D model using electrospinning to study how endothelial cells respond to stress and oxidative damage, aiming to better understand atherosclerosis.

## Contribution

The novel contribution is the development of a 3D composite scaffold that mimics the vascular intima for studying endothelial damage under controlled conditions.

## Key findings

- Electrospun scaffolds successfully replicated the vascular intima's properties for cell culture.
- High shear stress significantly reduced cell viability, even with ox-LDL exposure.
- The model shows promise for studying endothelial dysfunction in atherosclerosis.

## Abstract

Background: Endothelial dysfunction triggers atherosclerosis pathogenesis. This study aimed at developing a 3D scaffold model able to reproduce in vitro the human vascular intima and study the endothelial damage induced by oxidative low-density lipoproteins (ox-LDLs) and shear stress. (2) Methods: Three-dimensional sandwich-like scaffolds were fabricated using electrospinning technology, functionalized with type I collagen and laminin, and subsequently coated with methacrylated gelatin hydrogel (GelMa) to achieve the final composite structure. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were used as the cell model for testing the suitability of 3D supports for cell culture exposed to ox-LDL both under static and shear stress conditions. Cell viability, ultrastructural morphology, and nitric oxide (NO) levels were analyzed. (3) Results: Electrospun mats and their functionalization were optimized to reproduce the chemical and physical properties of the vascular intima tunica. The 3D supports were suitable for the cell culture. Ox-LDL did not affect the HUVEC behavior in the 3D models under a static environment. Conversely, high shear stress (500 µL/min, HSS) significantly decreased the cell viability, also under the ox-LDL treatment. (4) Conclusions: Endothelial cell cultures on electrospun supports exposed to HSS provide a candidate in vitro model for investigating the endothelial dysfunction in atherosclerosis research. Technical improvements to the experimental setting are necessary for validating and standardizing the suggested 3D model.