Patent ID: 7811782
Filing Date: 2010-10-12
Classification: C12N

Abstract:
1. A method of testing a drug or a compound for an effect on the vascular system, said method comprising: adding a culture media to a Petri dish; adding a drug or a compound to the culture media; plating a first cell type on a first side of a porous membrane, plating a second cell type on a second side of the porous membrane, wherein said porous membrane is suspended in the Petri dish such that the first side is proximal and in spaced relation to a surface of the Petri dish, thereby defining within the Petri dish a lower volume comprising the first cell type and an upper volume comprising the second cell type, the porous membrane being adapted to permit fluid communication of the culture media and physical interaction and communication between cells of the first cell type and cells of the second cell type, and all of the cell types are within the culture media; perfusing culture media into and out of the upper volume; perfusing culture media into and out of the lower volume; applying a shear force upon the plated second cell type, said shear force resulting from flow of the culture media induced by a hemodynamic flow device, said flow mimicking hemodynamic flow; and comparing at least one of the first cell type and the second cell type after applying the shear force for a period of time to at least one of the first cell type and the second cell type after applying the shear force for the period of time wherein the media does not include the drug or compound, to determine the effect of the drug or compound on at least one of the first cell type and the second cell type.