Evaluating the mechanical responses on a cell under fluid perfusion: A multiscale computational method

Abstract

Enhancing cell migration on the surface of an implant can indeed have a significant effect on expediting both wound healing and the process of osseointegration between the implant and the surrounding bone. In this context, a study was conducted involving Fluid-Structure Interaction (FSI) analysis on a porous structure. The aim is to observe how the porous model and the cell seeded on the porous model responded to fluid flow in terms of their mechanical behavior under some boundary conditions. A sub-modelling approach was applied to determine the deformation and strain experienced by the cells within the porous model. The porous structure has been configured to possess a porosity level of 65%. In this model, the cellular structure was represented by the cytoplasm only. Considering perfusion media as a Newtonian fluid, the influence of various mechanical stimuli (pressure due to flow, strain, and deformation) on cell growth and bone regeneration was investigated for a particular in vitro fluid flow condition. This study will allow us to anticipate an optimal porous model that promotes cell growth.

Keywords

• Osseointegration
• Porous media
• CFD
• FSI
• Sub-modelling