Numerical methods to compute stresses and displacements from cellular forces: Application to the contraction of tissue

We consider a mathematical model for skin contraction, which is based on solving a momentum balance under the assumptions of isotropy, homogeneity, Hooke's Law, infinitesimal strain theory and point forces exerted by cells. However, point forces, described by Dirac Delta distributions lead to a singular solution, which in many cases may cause...

Point forces in elasticity equation and their alternatives in multi dimensions

Deep dermal wounds induce skin contraction as a result of the traction forcing exerted by (myo)fibroblasts on their immediate environment. These (myo)fibroblasts are skin cells that are responsible for the regeneration of collagen that is necessary for the integrity of skin We consider several mathematical issues regarding models that...

Comparison between a phenomenological approach and a morphoelasticity approach regarding the displacement of extracellular matrix

Plastic (permanent) deformations were earlier, modeled by a phenomenological model in Peng and Vermolen (Biomech Model Mechanobiol 19(6):2525–2551, 2020). In this manusctipt, we consider a more physics-based formulation that is based on morphoelasticity. We firstly introduce the morphoelasticity approach and investigate the impact of various...

Upscaling between an agent-based model (smoothed particle approach) and a continuum-based model for skin contractions

Skin contraction is an important biophysical process that takes place during and after recovery of deep tissue injury. This process is mainly caused by fibroblasts (skin cells) and myofibroblasts (differentiated fibroblasts which exert larger pulling forces and produce larger amounts of collagen) that both exert pulling forces on the...

A formalism for modelling traction forces and cell shape evolution during cell migration in various biomedical processes

The phenomenological model for cell shape deformation and cell migration Chen (BMM 17:1429–1450, 2018), Vermolen and Gefen (BMM 12:301–323, 2012), is extended with the incorporation of cell traction forces and the evolution of cell equilibrium shapes as a result of cell differentiation. Plastic deformations of the extracellular matrix are...

Point Forces and Their Alternatives in Cell-Based Models for Skin Contraction in Two Dimensions

Deep tissue injury is often followed by contraction of the scar tissue. This contraction occurs as a result of pulling forces that are exerted by fibroblasts (skin cells). We consider a cell-based approach to simulate the contraction behavior of the skin. Since the cells are much smaller than the wound region, we model cellular forces by...

Semi-stochastic cell-level computational modelling of cellular forces

A phenomenological model is formulated to model cellular forces on extracellular material. The model is capable of modelling both expansion and contractile forces. This work is based on the assumption of linear elasticity, which allows a superposition argument to arrive at fundamental expressions for cellular forces. It is also shown how the...