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Published on: August 8, 2017
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Strain gradient development in 3-dimensional extracellular matrix scaffolds during in vitro mechanical stimulation
Benjamin J Seifer1, Christopher T Wagner2
1a Department of Mechanical Engineering , School of Engineering, The College of New Jersey , Ewing , NJ , USA.
Summary
Strain variations in 3D ECM scaffolds differ between models. Direct elongation models show uniform strain, while membrane-adherent models exhibit reduced average strain with increased thickness, impacting tissue engineering research.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Tissue Engineering
- Computational Biology
Background:
- Extracellular matrix (ECM) scaffolds are crucial for tissue engineering.
- Understanding mechanical properties, like strain, is vital for predicting cellular responses.
- Previous studies often assume uniform strain distribution within scaffolds.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze and compare strain variations in 3D ECM scaffolds using two distinct computational models.
- To investigate the influence of scaffold thickness and model type on strain distribution.
- To highlight the implications of non-uniform strain for tissue engineering applications.
Main Methods:
- Utilized computational modeling to simulate strain in 3D ECM scaffolds.
- Employed a membrane-adherent model (MM) and a direct elongation model (DM).
- Analyzed strain profiles across varied scaffold thicknesses and intra-scaffold slices for target strains (1-10%).
Main Results:
- Direct elongation model (DM) demonstrated uniform strain profiles, independent of scaffold thickness.
- Membrane-adherent model (MM) showed heterogeneous strain, with average strain decreasing as thickness increased.
- A significant portion of the scaffold volume experienced off-target strain in the DM, while MM showed reduced overall strain.
Conclusions:
- Spatial strain variations within 3D ECM scaffolds are significant and model-dependent.
- Reduced average strain in the MM model may necessitate targeted cell sampling for accurate response assessment.
- Investigators must consider these mechanical variations for precise causal relationships in tissue engineering, especially for mechanically sensitive tissues.
