While mechanical stimulation of cells seeded within scaffolds is widely thought to be beneficial, the amount of benefit observed is highly variable between experimental systems. Although studies have investigated specific experimental loading protocols thought to be advantageous for cartilage growth, less is known about the physical stimuli (e.g., pressures, velocities, and local strains) cells experience during these experiments. This study used results of a literature survey, which looked for patterns in the efficacy of mechanical stimulation of chondrocyte seeded scaffolds, to inform the modeling of spatial patterns of physical stimuli present in mechanically stimulated constructs. The literature survey revealed a large variation in conditions used in mechanical loading studies, with a peak to peak strain of 10% (i.e., the maximum amount of deformation experienced by the scaffold) at 1 Hz on agarose scaffolds being the most frequently studied parameters and scaffold. This loading frequency was then used as the basis for simulation in the finite element analyses. 2D axisymmetric finite element models of scaffolds with 360 modulus/permeability combinations were constructed using COMSOLMULTIPHYSICS software. A time dependent coupled pore pressure/effective stress analysis was used to model fluid/solid interactions in the scaffolds upon loading. Loading was simulated using an impermeable frictionless loader on the top boundary with fluid and solid displacement confined to the radial axis. As expected, all scaffold materials exhibited classic poro-elastic behavior having pressurized cores with low fluid flow and edges with high radial fluid velocities. Under the simulation parameters of this study, PEG scaffolds had the highest pressure and radial fluid velocity but also the lowest shear stress and radial strain. Chitosan and KLD-12 simulated scaffold materials had the lowest radial strains and fluid velocities, with collagen scaffolds having the lowest pressures. Parametric analysis showed maximum peak pressures within the scaffold to be more dependent on scaffold modulus than on permeability and velocities to depend on both scaffold properties similarly. The dependence of radial strain on permeability or modulus was more complex; maximum strains occurred at lower permeabilities and moduli, and the lowest strain occurred at the stiffest most permeable scaffold. Shear stresses within all scaffolds were negligible. These results give insight into the large variations in metabolic response seen in studies involving mechanical stimulation of cell-seeded constructs, where the same loading conditions produce very different results due to the differences in material properties.
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e-mail: omb3@cornell.edu
e-mail: lb244@cornell.edu
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June 2009
Research Papers
Parametric Finite Element Analysis of Physical Stimuli Resulting From Mechanical Stimulation of Tissue Engineered Cartilage
Omotunde M. Babalola, B.S.,
Omotunde M. Babalola, B.S.
Department of Biomedical Engineering,
e-mail: omb3@cornell.edu
Cornell University
, 151 Weill Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853
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Lawrence J. Bonassar, Ph.D.
Lawrence J. Bonassar, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Biomedical Engineering and Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering,
e-mail: lb244@cornell.edu
Cornell University
, Ithaca, NY 14853
Search for other works by this author on:
Omotunde M. Babalola, B.S.
Department of Biomedical Engineering,
Cornell University
, 151 Weill Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853e-mail: omb3@cornell.edu
Lawrence J. Bonassar, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Biomedical Engineering and Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering,
Cornell University
, Ithaca, NY 14853e-mail: lb244@cornell.edu
J Biomech Eng. Jun 2009, 131(6): 061014 (7 pages)
Published Online: May 11, 2009
Article history
Received:
November 18, 2008
Revised:
March 12, 2009
Published:
May 11, 2009
Citation
Babalola, O. M., and Bonassar, L. J. (May 11, 2009). "Parametric Finite Element Analysis of Physical Stimuli Resulting From Mechanical Stimulation of Tissue Engineered Cartilage." ASME. J Biomech Eng. June 2009; 131(6): 061014. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.3128672
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