Computational modeling of cell orientation in 3D micro-constructs

In many tissue engineering applications it is essential to understand how cells orient under the influence of their mechanical environment. In vitro engineered models are used to investigate the orientation of F-actin stress fibers inside cells. One such in vitro model [1] consists of a mixture of cells, collagen and matrigel, that is constrained by an array of silicone posts (Figure 1). We have recently developed a computational model to describe the orientation of stress fibers in response to their mechanical environment [2]. In the present study, this computational model is extended to 3D and used to simulate cell behavior in the mentioned in vitro model. This improves our understanding of how stress fibers orient in response to the mechanical environment and aids in optimizing the use of the in vitro model

Efficient computational simulation of actin stress fiber remodeling

\u3cp\u3eUnderstanding collagen and stress fiber remodeling is essential for the development of engineered tissues with good functionality. These processes are complex, highly interrelated, and occur over different time scales. As a result, excessive computational costs are required to computationally predict the final organization of these fibers in response to dynamic mechanical conditions. In this study, an analytical approximation of a stress fiber remodeling evolution law was derived. A comparison of the developed technique with the direct numerical integration of the evolution law showed relatively small differences in results, and the proposed method is one to two orders of magnitude faster.\u3c/p\u3