Review of the Techniques Used for Investigating the Role Elastin and Collagen Play in Arterial Wall Mechanics

The arterial wall is characterised by a complex microstructure that impacts the mechanical properties of the vascular tissue. The main components consist of collagen and elastin fibres, proteoglycans, Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells (VSMCs) and ground matrix. While VSMCs play a key role in the active mechanical response of arteries, collagen and elastin determine the passive mechanics. Several experimental methods have been designed to investigate the role of these structural proteins in determining the passive mechanics of the arterial wall. Microscopy imaging of load-free or fixed samples provides useful information on the structure-function coupling of the vascular tissue, and mechanical testing provides information on the mechanical role of collagen and elastin networks. However, when these techniques are used separately, they fail to provide a full picture of the arterial micromechanics. More recently, advances in imaging techniques have allowed combining both methods, thus dynamically imaging the sample while loaded in a pseudo-physiological way, and overcoming the limitation of using either of the two methods separately. The present review aims at describing the techniques currently available to researchers for the investigation of the arterial wall micromechanics. This review also aims to elucidate the current understanding of arterial mechanics and identify some research gaps.

Automated summary

The arterial wall is composed of various components such as collagen and elastin fibers, proteoglycans, Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells (VSMCs) and ground matrix, which play different roles in determining the mechanical properties of the vascular tissue. Experimental methods including microscopy imaging and mechanical testing have been used to study the mechanical role of these structural proteins, but combining these methods provides a more complete understanding of the arterial micromechanics. Advances in imaging techniques allow for dynamic imaging of samples under a pseudo-physiological condition, overcoming the limitations of using either method separately. This review aims to describe the techniques available for studying arterial wall micromechanics and to identify gaps in current research on arterial mechanics.