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Three-dimensional simulation of anisotropic cell-driven collagen gel compaction

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Abstract

Tissue equivalents (TEs), formed by entrapping cells in a collagen gel, are an important model system for studying cell behavior. We have previously (Barocas and Tranquillo in J Biomech Eng 117:161–170, 1997a) developed an anisotropic biphasic theory of TE mechanics, which comprises five coupled partial differential equations describing interaction among cells and collagen fibers in the TE. The model equations, previously solved in one or two dimensions, were solved in three dimensions using an adaptive finite-element platform. The model was applied to three systems: a rectangular isometric cell traction assay, an otherwise- acellular gel containing two islands of cells, and an idealized tissue-engineered cardiac valve leaflet. In the first two cases, published experimental data were available for comparison, and the model results were consistent with the experimental observations. Fibers and cells aligned in the fixed direction in the isometric assay, and a region of strong fiber alignment arose between the two cell islands. For the valve problem, the alignment predicted by the model was generally similar to that observed experimentally, but an asymmetry in the experiment was not captured by the model.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Computer Science, Colgate University, Hamilton, NY, USA

    Toshiro K. Ohsumi

  2. Department of Computer Science, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, USA

    Joseph E. Flaherty

  3. Department of Materials Science, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA

    Michael C. Evans

  4. Department of Biomedical Engineering, 7-105 Hasselmo Hall, University of Minnesota, 312 Church St SE, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA

    Victor H. Barocas

Authors
  1. Toshiro K. Ohsumi
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  2. Joseph E. Flaherty
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  3. Michael C. Evans
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  4. Victor H. Barocas
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Correspondence to Victor H. Barocas.

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Ohsumi, T.K., Flaherty, J.E., Evans, M.C. et al. Three-dimensional simulation of anisotropic cell-driven collagen gel compaction. Biomech Model Mechanobiol 7, 53–62 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10237-007-0075-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10237-007-0075-0

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