Modelling cell guidance and curvature control in evolving biological tissues

Area of Science:

• Mathematical Biology
• Tissue Engineering
• Developmental Biology

Background:

• Tissue geometry significantly influences biological tissue evolution.
• Local tissue curvature affects growth rates and cellular tension, impacting cell behavior.
• Directed cell motion contributes to angled growth and anisotropic tissue properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the interplay between curvature control and directed cell motion in evolving biological tissues.
• To develop a novel cell-based mathematical model incorporating both mechanisms.
• To simulate new types of biological growth and anisotropic tissue property generation.

Main Methods:

• Developed a new cell-based mathematical model for tissue growth.
• Model based on conservation principles for tissue-synthesizing cell density at moving boundaries.
• Used a hybrid front-tracking method (cell-based particle method) to solve the partial differential equation numerically.

Main Results:

• The model successfully incorporates directed cell motion and curvature control.
• Enabled simulation of biological growth where tangential cell motion is crucial.
• Illustrated applications in bone remodeling (resorption and infilling) and root hair growth.

Conclusions:

• The developed model provides a framework for studying complex tissue growth dynamics.
• Directed cell motion is a key factor in generating anisotropic tissue properties and interface evolution.
• The study offers a computational tool (MATLAB code) for further research.