Vein-on-a-chip models to innovate the treatment of vascular diseases

Varicose veins are a very common disease with symptomatology that can significantly impact on a patient's quality of life and - if left untreated - can cause long-term injury to the skin and ultimately ulceration. Although life-threatening complications are rare, there is a considerable social and economic impact of vein disease. Several methods have been developed to treat varicose veins, including radiofrequency and laser ablation, venous stripping, surgery and sclerotherapy. Sclerotherapy is the least invasive method, and involves the intra-venous injection of a liquid or foamed sclerosing agent, to disrupt the endothelial lining of the vein and ultimately lead to vessel sclerosis. In particular, foam sclerotherapy has demonstrated superior performance and safety, when compared to other treatment options. The widespread clinical adoption of this technology is however hindered by a limited understanding of its mechanisms of action. Thus, there is a need for the development of investigational models and methods to characterise the physical and biological performance of sclerosing agents, ultimately leading to the design of more effective vascular therapies. The present PhD project aims to address these gaps in knowledge and technology, and will be carried out in close collaboration with BTG International Ltd., a leading industry in the field of sclerotherapy (i.e., applicants have a long lasting and productive collaboration with this enterprise)