Paper Number
PO74
Session
Poster Session
Title
A multiphase model of vascular smooth muscle cell exhibiting passive viscoelastic behavior and active contractile apparatus
Presentation Date and Time
October 12, 2022 (Wednesday) 6:30
Track / Room
Poster Session / Riverwalk A
Authors
- Marousis, Antonis (University of Patras, Department of Chemical Engineering)
- Dimakopoulos, Yiannis (University of Patras, Department of Chemical Engineering)
- Tsamopoulos, John (University of Patras, Department of Chemical Engineering)
Author and Affiliation Lines
Antonis Marousis, Yiannis Dimakopoulos and John Tsamopoulos
Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Patras, Patras, Achaia 26225, Greece
Speaker / Presenter
Tsamopoulos, John
Keywords
computational methods; biomaterials
Text of Abstract
Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells (VSMCs) adapt their dimension, structure, and morphology in response to mechanical and biochemical stimuli, thereby maintaining vascular tone to homeostatic levels [1]. The abnormal contractility of VSMCs is associated with the development of many diseases, including hypertension and aneurysms. It is therefore essential to understand the biomechanics of VSMC contraction in health and disease. In general, VSMCs are spindle-shaped with a single nucleus. The cytoplasm contains actin and intermediate filaments, which run mostly parallel to their major axis, resulting in a significant anisotropic behavior [2]. In the present study, we have developed a multiphase model that incorporates the viscoelastic properties of the cell nucleus and the anisotropic viscoelastic characteristics of the cytoskeleton. Apart from the passive part of the intercellular space, we also account for the calcium-activated response of VSCM, which emerges from the interaction between myosin filaments and actin filaments, leading to an active contractile apparatus [3]. We examine the dynamics of the smooth muscle cell under uniaxial compression and extension tests through 2D and 3D Finite Element simulations. In each case, the mechanical properties of the cytoplasm are estimated by fitting the results of our simulations with previous experimental and numerical studies. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This research work is part of the Research Project “Multiscale modelling for the autoregulation of Microvessels, CARE” and was supported by the Hellenic Foundation for Research and Innovation (H.F.R.I.) under the “First Call for H.F.R.I. Research Projects to support Faculty members and Researchers and the procurement of high-cost research equipment grant” (Project Number: 81105). [1] D. E. Ingber, D. Prusty, Z. Sun, H. Betensky, and N. Wang, J. Biomech., 1995. [2] K. Nagayama and T. Matsumoto, JSME Int. Journal, Ser. C Mech. Syst. Mach. Elem. Manuf., 2004. [3] K. E. Kamm and J. T. Stull, Annu. Rev. Pharmacol. Toxicol., 198