Agent-based modeling was used to model collagen fibrils, composed of a string of nodes serially connected by links that act as Hookean springs. Bending mechanics are implemented as torsional springs that act upon each set of three serially connected nodes as a linear function of angular deflection about the central node. These fibrils were evaluated under conditions that simulated axial extension, simple three-point bending and an end-loaded cantilever. The deformation of fibrils under axial loading varied <0.001% from the analytical solution for linearly elastic fibrils. For fibrils between 100 μm and 200 μm in length experiencing small deflections, differences between simulated deflections and their analytical solutions were <1% for fibrils experiencing three-point bending and <7% for fibrils experiencing cantilever bending. When these new rules for fibril mechanics were introduced into a model that allowed for cross-linking of fibrils to form a network and the application of cell traction force, the fibrous network underwent macroscopic compaction and aligned between cells. Further, fibril density increased between cells to a greater extent than that observed macroscopically and appeared similar to matrical tracks that have been observed experimentally in cell-populated collagen gels. This behavior is consistent with observations in previous versions of the model that did not allow for the physically realistic simulation of fibril mechanics. The significance of the torsional spring constant value was then explored to determine its impact on remodeling of the simulated fibrous network. Although a stronger torsional spring constant reduced the degree of quantitative remodeling that occurred, the inclusion of torsional springs in the model was not necessary for the model to reproduce key qualitative aspects of remodeling, indicating that the presence of Hookean springs is essential for this behavior. These results suggest that traction force mediated matrix remodeling may be a robust phenomenon not limited to fibrils with a precise set of material properties.
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February 2014
Research-Article
Agent-Based Modeling Traction Force Mediated Compaction of Cell-Populated Collagen Gels Using Physically Realistic Fibril Mechanics
James W. Reinhardt,
James W. Reinhardt
Department of Biomedical Engineering,
The Ohio State University
,270 Bevis Hall, 1080 Carmack Rd.
,Columbus, OH 43210
Search for other works by this author on:
Keith J. Gooch
Keith J. Gooch
1
Department of Biomedical Engineering,
The Ohio State University
,270 Bevis Hall, 1080 Carmack Rd.
,Columbus, OH 43210
;Dorothy M. Davis Heart &
Lung Research Institute,
e-mail: gooch.20@osu.edu
Lung Research Institute,
The Ohio State University
,473 W. 12th Ave.
,Columbus, OH 43210
e-mail: gooch.20@osu.edu
1Corresponding author.
Search for other works by this author on:
James W. Reinhardt
Department of Biomedical Engineering,
The Ohio State University
,270 Bevis Hall, 1080 Carmack Rd.
,Columbus, OH 43210
Keith J. Gooch
Department of Biomedical Engineering,
The Ohio State University
,270 Bevis Hall, 1080 Carmack Rd.
,Columbus, OH 43210
;Dorothy M. Davis Heart &
Lung Research Institute,
e-mail: gooch.20@osu.edu
Lung Research Institute,
The Ohio State University
,473 W. 12th Ave.
,Columbus, OH 43210
e-mail: gooch.20@osu.edu
1Corresponding author.
Contributed by the Bioengineering Division of ASME for publication in the Journal of Biomechanical Engineering. Manuscript received September 11, 2013; final manuscript received November 26, 2013; accepted manuscript posted December 9, 2013; published online February 5, 2014. Editor: Victor H. Barocas.
J Biomech Eng. Feb 2014, 136(2): 021024 (9 pages)
Published Online: February 5, 2014
Article history
Received:
September 11, 2013
Revision Received:
November 26, 2013
Accepted:
December 9, 2013
Citation
Reinhardt, J. W., and Gooch, K. J. (February 5, 2014). "Agent-Based Modeling Traction Force Mediated Compaction of Cell-Populated Collagen Gels Using Physically Realistic Fibril Mechanics." ASME. J Biomech Eng. February 2014; 136(2): 021024. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4026179
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