Modeling the influence of oxygen in delayed bone fracture healing.

Conference (2013, August 25)

Computational modeling in tissue engineering

Book published by Springer - 1 (2013)

One of the major challenges in tissue engineering is the translation of biological knowledge on complex cell and tissue behavior into a predictive and robust engineering process. Mastering this complexity ... [more ▼]

One of the major challenges in tissue engineering is the translation of biological knowledge on complex cell and tissue behavior into a predictive and robust engineering process. Mastering this complexity is an essential step towards clinical applications of tissue engineering. This volume discusses computational modeling tools that allow studying the biological complexity in a more quantitative way. More specifically, computational tools can help in: (i) quantifying and optimizing the tissue engineering product, e.g. by adapting scaffold design to optimize micro-environmental signals or by adapting selection criteria to improve homogeneity of the selected cell population; (ii) quantifying and optimizing the tissue engineering process, e.g. by adapting bioreactor design to improve quality and quantity of the final product; and (iii) assessing the influence of the in vivo environment on the behavior of the tissue engineering product, e.g. by investigating vascular ingrowth. The book presents examples of each of the above mentioned areas of computational modeling. The underlying tissue engineering applications will vary from blood vessels over trachea to cartilage and bone. For the chapters describing examples of the first two areas, the main focus is on (the optimization of) mechanical signals, mass transport and fluid flow encountered by the cells in scaffolds and bioreactors as well as on the optimization of the cell population itself. In the chapters describing modeling contributions in the third area, the focus will shift towards the biology, the complex interactions between biology and the micro-environmental signals and the ways in which modeling might be able to assist in investigating and mastering this complexity. The chapters cover issues related to (multiscale/multiphysics) model building, training and validation, but also discuss recent advances in scientific computing techniques that are needed to implement these models as well as new tools that can be used to experimentally validate the computational results. [less ▲]

Mechanobiological modeling can explain orthodontic tooth movement: three case studies.

in Journal of Biomechanics (2013), 46(3), 470-7

Progress in medicine and higher expectation of quality of life has led to a higher demand for several dental and medical treatments. This increases the occurrence of situations in which orthodontic ... [more ▼]

Progress in medicine and higher expectation of quality of life has led to a higher demand for several dental and medical treatments. This increases the occurrence of situations in which orthodontic treatment is complicated by pathological conditions, medical therapies and drugs. Together with experiments, computer models might lead to a better understanding of the effect of pathologies and medical treatment on tooth movement. This study uses a previously presented mechanobiological model of orthodontic tooth displacement to investigate the effect of pathologies and (medical) therapies on the result of orthodontic treatment by means of three clinically relevant case studies looking at the effect of estrogen deficiency, the effect of OPG injections and the influence of fluoride intake. When less estrogen was available, the model predicted bone loss and a rise in the number of osteoclasts present at the compression side, and a faster bone resorption. These effects were also observed experimentally. Experiments disagreed on the effect of estrogen deficiency on bone formation, while the mechanobiological model predicted very little difference between the pathological and the non-pathological case at formation sites. The model predicted a decrease in tooth movement after OPG injections or fluoride intake, which was also observed in experiments. Although more experiments and model analysis is needed to quantitatively validate the mechanobiological model used in this study, its ability to conceptually describe several pathological conditions is an important measure for its validity. [less ▲]

Analytical determination of stress patterns in the periodontal ligament during orthodontic tooth movement.

in Medical Engineering & Physics (2013), 35(3), 403-10

A dedicated software package that allows simulation of tooth movement can lead to shortening of the treatment program in orthodontics. A first step in the development of this software is the modelling of ... [more ▼]

A dedicated software package that allows simulation of tooth movement can lead to shortening of the treatment program in orthodontics. A first step in the development of this software is the modelling of the movement of a single tooth. Forces applied to the crown of the tooth are transmitted to the alveolar bone through the periodontal ligament, stretching, and compressing the ligament, eventually resulting in tooth movement. This paper presents an analytical model that predicts stresses and strains inside this ligament by approximating the shape of the root as an elliptic paraboloid. The model input consists of 2 material parameters and 4 geometrical parameters. To assess the accuracy of the model a finite element model (FEM) was constructed to compare the results and the influence of the eccentricity of the root was studied. The results show that the model is able to successfully describe the global behavior of the PDL and, except at a region near the alveolar crest, the differences between analytical and FEM results are small. In contrast to FEM, the analytical model does not require setting up a 3D-model and creating a mesh, allowing for significantly lower computational times and reducing cost when implementing in clinical practice. [less ▲]

A multiscale model of sprouting angiogenesis during fracture healing.

Conference (2012, September 18)

Multiscale modeling of sprouting angiogenesis: tip cells are selected for the top.

Poster (2012, September 05)

Tip cells at the top: a multiscale model of sprouting angiogenesis.

Conference (2012, July 01)

Tip cells at the top: multiscale modeling of angiogenesis during fracture healing

in Computer Methods in Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering (CMBBE) - Proceedings (2012, April)

A visco-elastic model for the prediction of orthodontic tooth movement.

in Computer Methods in Biomechanics & Biomedical Engineering (2012)

This study presents a biomechanical model of orthodontic tooth movement. Although such models have already been presented in the literature, most of them incorporate computationally expensive finite ... [more ▼]

This study presents a biomechanical model of orthodontic tooth movement. Although such models have already been presented in the literature, most of them incorporate computationally expensive finite elements (FE) methods to determine the strain distribution in the periodontal ligament (PDL). In contrast, the biomechanical model presented in this work avoids the use of FE methods. The elastic deformation of the PDL is modelled using an analytical approach, which does not require setting up a 3D model of the tooth. The duration of the lag phase is estimated using the calculated hydrostatic stresses, and bone remodelling is predicted by modelling the alveolar bone as a viscous material. To evaluate the model, some typically used motion patterns were simulated and a sensitivity analysis was carried out on the parameters. Results show that despite some shortcomings, the model is able to describe commonly used motion patterns in orthodontic tooth movement, in both single- and multi-rooted teeth. [less ▲]

Mechanisms of ectopic bone formation by human osteoprogenitor cells on CaP biomaterial carriers.

in Biomaterials (2012)

Stem cell-based strategies for bone regeneration, which use calcium phosphate (CaP)-based biomaterials in combination with developmentally relevant progenitor populations, have significant potential for ... [more ▼]

Stem cell-based strategies for bone regeneration, which use calcium phosphate (CaP)-based biomaterials in combination with developmentally relevant progenitor populations, have significant potential for clinical repair of skeletal defects. However, the exact mechanism of action and the stem cell-host-material interactions are still poorly understood. We studied if pre-conditioning of human periosteum-derived cells (hPDCs) in vitro could enhance, in combination with a CaP-based biomaterial carrier, ectopic bone formation in vivo. By culturing hPDCs in a biomimetic calcium (Ca(2+)) and phosphate (P(i)) enriched culture conditions, we observed an enhanced cell proliferation, decreased expression of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) markers and upregulation of osteogenic genes including osterix, Runx2, osteocalcin, osteopontin, and BMP-2. However, the in vitro pre-conditioning protocols were non-predictive for in vivo ectopic bone formation. Surprisingly, culturing in the presence of Ca(2+) and P(i) supplements resulted in partial or complete abrogation of in vivo ectopic bone formation. Through histological, immunohistochemical and microfocus X-ray computed tomography (muCT) analysis of the explants, we found that in situ proliferation, collagen matrix deposition and the mediation of osteoclastic activity by hPDCs are associated to their ectopic bone forming capacity. These data were validated by the multivariate analysis and partial least square regression modelling confirming the non-predictability of in vitro parameters on in vivo ectopic bone formation. Our series of experiments provided further insights on the stem cell-host-material interactions that govern in vivo ectopic bone induction driven by hPDCs on CaP-based biomaterials. [less ▲]