QSB: Quantitative Simulation of Cell Migration in Porous Biomaterials

Drexel University, Philadelphia PA

Investigators

Abstract

Abrams 0331191 The goal of this project is to gain a quantitative understanding of the behavior of migrating cells in synthetic porous materials. Specifically, this requires understanding the simultaneous effects of (i) the porous microarchitecture (mean pore size, internal surface area, pore-pore correlation length), (ii) molecular transport of stimulants, such as growth factors and other cell-to-cell signaling molecules, via diffusion (diffusivities), (iii) cell transport (maximum speed, persistence, dispersion), and (iv) cell response to stimulants (chemotaxis and chemokinesis), on the observed migration speed of a cell population through the porous medium. This will be achieved through the development of a discrete, probabilistic model of cell motion in spatially inhomogeneous 3-D domains, incorporating cell response to and influence on time-dependent concentration fields of stimulant molecules. The model will be applied to simulation of angiogenesis in three-dimensional porous matrices, where specific goals are understanding the sensitivity of the likelihood of anastomosis (i.e., fusing of two sprouts to form a loop) on microarchitectural parameters and parameters describing cell signal production and reception. Results and conclusions from the project will be incorporated as course modules in advanced transport and numerical methods courses.