Trabecular bone remodelling simulation considering osteocytic response to fluid-induced shear stress

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics
• Cellular Biology
• Materials Science

Background:

• Osteocytes within the lacuno-canalicular system are crucial mechanosensors in bone.
• Mechanical loading of bone causes interstitial fluid flow, stimulating osteocytes via shear stress.
• Osteocytes transmit mechanical information through an intercellular network, regulating bone remodeling.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a multi-scale biomechanical model of trabecular bone remodeling.
• To incorporate the osteocytic mechanosensory network into bone remodeling regulation.
• To simulate and demonstrate functional adaptation of bone to mechanical loading.

Main Methods:

• Developed a mathematical model integrating osteocyte mechanosensing and bone remodeling.
• Performed computational simulations of a single trabecula under cyclic uniaxial loading.
• Analyzed the functional adaptation of the bone construct based on the model.

Main Results:

• The model successfully simulated bone remodeling in response to mechanical stimuli.
• Demonstrated functional adaptation of trabecular bone as a load-bearing structure.
• Highlighted the role of the osteocytic network in mediating adaptation.

Conclusions:

• Osteocyte mechanosensory networks are key regulators of bone functional adaptation.
• The proposed multi-scale model provides insights into bone mechanobiology.
• Computational simulations can predict bone remodeling and adaptation under loading.