title: A poroelastic model describing nutrient transport and cell stresses within a cyclically strained collagen hydrogel.
abstract: In the creation of engineered tissue constructs, the successful transport of nutrients and oxygen to the contained cells is a significant challenge. In highly porous scaffolds subject to cyclic strain, the mechanical deformations can induce substantial fluid pressure gradients, which affect the transport of solutes. In this article, we describe a poroelastic model to predict the solid and fluid mechanics of a highly porous hydrogel subject to cyclic strain. The model was validated by matching the predicted penetration of a bead into the hydrogel from the model with experimental observations and provides insight into nutrient transport. Additionally, the model provides estimates of the wall-shear stresses experienced by the cells embedded within the scaffold. These results provide insight into the mechanics of and convective nutrient transport within a cyclically strained hydrogel, which could lead to the improved design of engineered tissues.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mathematical Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
authors.forename: Benjamin L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Vaughan
authors.forename: Peter A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Galie
authors.forename: Jan P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Stegemann
authors.forename: James B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Grotberg
mesh_terms: D001692:Biological Transport; D003094:Collagen / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D004548:Elasticity; D020100:Hydrogels; D008954:Models, Biological; D016062:Porosity; D013314:Stress, Mechanical
chemical_list: D020100:Hydrogels; D003094:Collagen