Abstract
A general multi-scale strategy is presented for modeling the mechanical environment of a group of neurons that were embedded within a collagenous matrix. The results of the multi-scale simulation are used to estimate the local strains that arise in neurons when the extracellular matrix is deformed. The distribution of local strains was found to depend strongly on the configuration of the embedded neurons relative to the loading direction, reflecting the anisotropic mechanical behavior of the neurons. More importantly, the applied strain on the surrounding extracellular matrix is amplified in the neurons for all loading configurations that are considered. In the most severe case, the applied strain is amplified by at least a factor of 2 in 10% of the neurons' volume. The approach presented in this paper provides an extension to the capability of past methods by enabling the realistic representation of complex cell geometry into a multi-scale framework. The simulation results for the embedded neurons provide local strain information that is not accessible by current experimental techniques.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 113-129 |
Number of pages | 17 |
Journal | Computer methods in biomechanics and biomedical engineering |
Volume | 22 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jan 25 2019 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:Computing resources were provided by the Center for Computational Innovations at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.This work by supported by the National Institute of Health through Grant No. U01-EB016638.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2018, © 2018 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
Keywords
- back pain
- multiscale modeling
- neuron deformation
- spine mechanics