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Pericellular Matrix Mechanics in the Anulus Fibrosus Predicted by a Three-Dimensional Finite Element Model and In Situ Morphology.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Cao, L; Guilak, F; Setton, LA
Published in: Cellular and molecular bioengineering
September 2009

Anulus fibrosus (AF) cells have been demonstrated to exhibit dramatic differences in morphology and biologic responses to different types of mechanical stimuli. AF cells may reside as single cell, paired or multiple cells in a contiguous pericellular matrix (PCM), whose structure and properties are expected to have a significant influence on the mechanical stimuli that these cells may experience during physiologic loading of the spine, as well as in tissue degeneration and regeneration. In this study, a computational model was developed to predict the micromechanical stimuli, such as stress and strain, fluid pressure and flow, of cells and their surrounding PCM in the AF tissue using three-dimensional (3D) finite element models based on in situ morphology. 3D solid geometries of cell-PCM regions were registered from serial confocal images obtained from mature rat AF tissues by custom codes. Distinct cell-matrix units were modeled with a custom 3D biphasic finite element code (COMSOL Multiphysics), and simulated to experience uni-axial tensile strain along the local collagen fiber direction. AF cells were predicted to experience higher volumetric strain with a strain amplification ratio (relative to that in the extracellular matrix) of ~ 3.1 - 3.8 at equilibrium, as compared to the PCM domains (1.3 - 1.9). The strain concentrations were generally found at the cell/PCM interface and stress concentration at the PCM/ECM interface. Increased numbers of cells within a contiguous PCM was associated with an apparent increase of strain levels and decreased rate of fluid pressurization in the cell, with magnitudes dependent on the cell size, shape and relative position inside the PCM. These studies provide spatio-temporal information on micromechanics of AF cells in understanding the mechanotransduction in the intervertebral disc.

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Published In

Cellular and molecular bioengineering

DOI

EISSN

1865-5033

ISSN

1865-5025

Publication Date

September 2009

Volume

2

Issue

3

Start / End Page

306 / 319

Related Subject Headings

  • 4003 Biomedical engineering
  • 0903 Biomedical Engineering
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
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Cao, L., Guilak, F., & Setton, L. A. (2009). Pericellular Matrix Mechanics in the Anulus Fibrosus Predicted by a Three-Dimensional Finite Element Model and In Situ Morphology. Cellular and Molecular Bioengineering, 2(3), 306–319. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12195-009-0081-7
Cao, Li, Farshid Guilak, and Lori A. Setton. “Pericellular Matrix Mechanics in the Anulus Fibrosus Predicted by a Three-Dimensional Finite Element Model and In Situ Morphology.Cellular and Molecular Bioengineering 2, no. 3 (September 2009): 306–19. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12195-009-0081-7.
Cao L, Guilak F, Setton LA. Pericellular Matrix Mechanics in the Anulus Fibrosus Predicted by a Three-Dimensional Finite Element Model and In Situ Morphology. Cellular and molecular bioengineering. 2009 Sep;2(3):306–19.
Cao, Li, et al. “Pericellular Matrix Mechanics in the Anulus Fibrosus Predicted by a Three-Dimensional Finite Element Model and In Situ Morphology.Cellular and Molecular Bioengineering, vol. 2, no. 3, Sept. 2009, pp. 306–19. Epmc, doi:10.1007/s12195-009-0081-7.
Cao L, Guilak F, Setton LA. Pericellular Matrix Mechanics in the Anulus Fibrosus Predicted by a Three-Dimensional Finite Element Model and In Situ Morphology. Cellular and molecular bioengineering. 2009 Sep;2(3):306–319.
Journal cover image

Published In

Cellular and molecular bioengineering

DOI

EISSN

1865-5033

ISSN

1865-5025

Publication Date

September 2009

Volume

2

Issue

3

Start / End Page

306 / 319

Related Subject Headings

  • 4003 Biomedical engineering
  • 0903 Biomedical Engineering