Development of a finite element model to predict the cellular micromechanical environment in tissue engineering scaffolds

摘要: Cell fate in tissue engineering (TE) strategies is paramount to regenerate healthy, functional organs. The mechanical loads experienced by cells play an important role cell fate. However, TE scaffolds with a cell-laden hydrogel matrix, it prohibitively complex prescribe and measure this cellular micromechanical environment (CME). Accordingly, study aimed develop finite element (FE) model of scaffold unit that can be subsequently implemented predict the CME fates under prescribed loading. compressible hyperelastic mechanics fibrin were characterized fitting unconfined compression confined experimental data. This material was FE scaffold. mesh boundary conditions evaluated respect response region interest (ROI). A second-order reduced polynomial gave best fit data (C 10 = 1.72×10 -4 , C 20 3.83×10 D 1 3.41, 2 8.06×10 -2 ). seed sizes 40 µm 60 ROI non-ROI regions, respectively, yielded converged 54 minutes. in-plane demonstrated minimal influence on for 2-by-2 cell. out-of-plane did exhibit appreciable two bilayer Overall, developed facilitates modeling state within will utilized characterize future studies, 3D criteria may applied these scaffolds.