Table 2 Studies utilising nanoindentation to investigate the mechanical properties of non-human aortic tissue
From: Micromechanical and Ultrastructural Properties of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms
Study, year | Subject | Tissue | Indenter tip | Testing regime | Main findings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Akhtar et al. 2009 [47] | Ferret | DTA | 10 µm Conospherical | Axial direction across full thickness of vessel | Linear decrease in E (stiffness) from adventitia (30 MPa) to intima (8 MPa) |
Hemmasizadeh et al. 2012 [48] | Porcine | DTA | 10 µm Conical | Axial direction across full thickness of vessel, at three levels along DTA | Outer half (adventitia) significantly stiffer (70.27 ± 2.47 kPa) than inner half (media) (60.32 ± 1.65 kPa) |
Panpho et al. 2016 [49] | Ovine | Aorta, from root to coeliac axis | 100 µm cylindrical flat punch | Radial direction on intimal and adventitial surface Circumferential direction to media | Linear increase in stiffness with distance from heart, which correlates with biochemical changes |
Kermani et al. 2017 [50] | Porcine | DTA | 10 µm Conical | Performed in 3 orientations; axial and circumferential (across full thickness of vessel) and radial from lumen. Specimens taken from 3 levels along DTA | E higher in circumferential than axial direction i.e. tissue demonstrates anisotropy |