Design of Polymer Scaffolds for Tissue Engineering Applications
Authored by Hamidreza Mehdizadeh, Ali Cinar, Elif S Bayrak, Sami I Somo, Eric M Brey
Date Published: 2015
DOI: 10.1021/ie503133e
Sponsors:
Veterans Administration
United States National Science Foundation (NSF)
Platforms:
No platforms listed
Model Documentation:
Other Narrative
Flow charts
Model Code URLs:
Model code not found
Abstract
Agent-based models (ABMs) provide a flexible multilayer platform for
incorporating various modeling techniques into a single hybrid model for
designing optimal biomaterial scaffolds for angiogenesis in tissue
engineering applications. Scaffold geometrical variables are considered
as design variables. The growth-factor concentration profile is the only
process variable considered in this study. The product variables used to
illustrate the combined effects of scaffold design variables and process
variables on the outcome of angiogenesis include the density and depth
of capillary invasion within the scaffold. The scaffold design process
and the ABM developed to simulate angiogenesis are described in this
article. The performance of the ABM and the vascularization of the
polymer scaffolds are evaluated by simulation studies. The effects of
pore size, pore size distribution, and interconnectivity on the total
blood vessel length, invasion depth, and total number of sprouts formed
during the vascularization process are reported. The integration of the
simulation of angiogenesis with ABMs and scaffold design techniques
provides an iterative process for designing optimal scaffold structures.
Such an approach facilitates faster design of optimized scaffolds with
significantly less cost and enables better understanding of the
mechanisms of angiogenesis of polymer scaffolds for tissue engineering
applications.
Tags
Simulation
Mathematical-model
Vegf
Sprouting angiogenesis
Wound-healing angiogenesis
Capillary formation
Tumor angiogenesis
Multicellular patterns
Vascularized bone
Cell phenotypes