title: Continuum-level modelling of cellular adhesion and matrix production in aggregates.
abstract: Key regulators in tissue-engineering processes such as cell culture and cellular organisation are the cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions. As mathematical models are increasingly applied to investigate biological phenomena in the biomedical field, it is important, for some applications, that these models incorporate an adequate description of cell adhesion. This study describes the development of a continuum model that represents a cell-in-gel culture system used in bone-tissue engineering, namely that of a cell aggregate embedded in a hydrogel. Cell adhesion is modelled through the use of non-local (integral) terms in the partial differential equations. The simulation results demonstrate that the effects of cell-cell and cell-matrix adhesion are particularly important for the survival and growth of the cell population and the production of extracellular matrix by the cells, concurring with experimental observations in the literature.
authors.affiliation: Biomechanics Research Unit, Universite de Liege, Liege, Belgium. liesbet.geris@ulg.ac.be
authors.forename: Liesbet
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Geris
authors.forename: Joanna M A
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Ashbourn
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Clarke
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000502:physiology*; D002449:Cell Aggregation / Q000502:physiology*; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003470:Culture Media; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D020100:Hydrogels; D008954:Models, Biological; D009142:Musculoskeletal Physiological Phenomena; D009141:Musculoskeletal System / Q000166:cytology; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism; D023822:Tissue Engineering
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D020100:Hydrogels; D010100:Oxygen