0000000000046647
AUTHOR
Michael S. Sacks
Physiological Micromechanics of the Anterior Mitral Valve Leaflet
An improved understanding of mitral valve (MV) function remains an important goal for determining mechanisms underlying valve disease and for developing novel therapies. Critical to heart valve tissue homeostasis is the valvular interstitial cells (VICs), which reside in the interstitium and maintain the extracellular matrix (ECM) through both protein synthesis and enzymatic degradation [1]. There is scant experimental data on the alterations of the MV fiber network reorganization as a function of load, which is critical for implementation of computational strategies that attempt to link this meso-micro scale phenomenon. The observed large scale deformations experienced by VICs could be imp…
On the biomechanical function of scaffolds for engineering load-bearing soft tissues
Replacement or regeneration of load-bearing soft tissues has long been the impetus for the development of bioactive materials. While maturing, current efforts continue to be confounded by our lack of understanding of the intricate multi-scale hierarchical arrangements and interactions typically found in native tissues. The current state of the art in biomaterial processing enables a degree of controllable microstructure that can be used for the development of model systems to deduce fundamental biological implications of matrix morphologies on cell function. Furthermore, the development of computational frameworks which allow for the simulation of experimentally derived observations represe…
A Method to Extract the Complete Fiber Network Topology of Planar Fibrous Tissues and Scaffolds
Improving fabrication protocols and design strategies, investigating on how fibrous ECM and synthetic architectures affect cell morphology, metabolism and phenotypic expression, predicting mechanical behaviors, have increasingly become crucial goals in the understanding of native tissues and in the development of engineered tissue. In the present study, an image-based analysis approach that provides an automatic tool to fully characterize engineered tissue fiber network topology was developed. The following micro architectural features were detected: fiber angle distribution, fiber connectivity, fiber overlap spatial density, and fiber diameter. In order to demonstrate the potential of this…
Large strain stimulation promotes extracellular matrix production and stiffness in an elastomeric scaffold model
Mechanical conditioning of engineered tissue constructs is widely recognized as one of the most relevant methods to enhance tissue accretion and microstructure, leading to improved mechanical behaviors. The understanding of the underlying mechanisms remains rather limited, restricting the development of in silico models of these phenomena, and the translation of engineered tissues into clinical application. In the present study, we examined the role of large strip-biaxial strains (up to 50%) on ECM synthesis by vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) micro-integrated into electrospun polyester urethane urea (PEUU) constructs over the course of 3 weeks. Experimental results indicated that VSMC …
From single fiber to macro-level mechanics: A structural finite-element model for elastomeric fibrous biomaterials
In the present work, we demonstrate that the mesoscopic in-plane mechanical behavior of membrane elastomeric scaffolds can be simulated by replication of actual quantified fibrous geometries. Elastomeric electrospun polyurethane (ES-PEUU) scaffolds, with and without particulate inclusions, were utilized. Simulations were developed from experimentally-derived fiber network geometries, based on a range of scaffold isotropic and anisotropic behaviors. These were chosen to evaluate the effects on macro-mechanics based on measurable geometric parameters such as fiber intersections, connectivity, orientation, and diameter. Simulations were conducted with only the fiber material model parameters a…
Micro-Meso Scale Model of Electrospun Poly (Ester Urethane) Urea Scaffolds
Soft tissue engineering applications require accurate descriptions of native and engineered tissue microstructure and their contributions to global mechanical behavior [1–6]. Moreover, micro scale based mechanical models can be used to: (1) guide tissue engineering scaffold design, (2) provide a better understanding of cellular mechanical and metabolic response to local micro-structural deformations, and (3) investigate structural changes as a function of deformation across multiple scales. We present a novel approach to automatically collect micro-architectural data (fibers overlaps, fiber connectivity, and fiber orientation) from SEM images of electrospun poly (ester urethane) urea (PEUU)…
Elastomeric Electrospun Polyurethane Scaffolds: The Interrelationship Between Fabrication Conditions, Fiber Topology, and Mechanical Properties
Electrospinning has been gaining increasing popularity in the fabrication of engineered tissue scaffolds due to its ability to produce nano to micro scale fibrous sheets. Many investigators have attempted to apply various degrees of control to this process in order to produce fiber meshes with more predictable patterns. These attempts have largely been limited to controlling fiber alignment and have fallen into two categories: physical manipulation of the fibers by pulling them into alignment using a rapidly spinning mandrel[1–3] or manipulation of the electric field during fabrication.[4, 5]
Association of Fiber Orientation and Dissection Properties of Ascending Thoracic Aortic Aneurysms With Aortic Valve Morphology
Type A aortic dissection (AoD) of an ascending thoracic aortic aneurysm (ATAA) is a life-threatening cardiovascular emergency with a high potential for death. Despite improved surgical techniques, the morbidity risk for emergent surgery remains 24% worldwide according to data from the International Registry of Acute Aortic Dissection [1].Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Alterations in the Microstructure of the Anterior Mitral Valve Leaflet Under Physiological Stress
An improved understanding of mitral valve (MV) function remains an important goal for determining mechanisms underlying valve disease and for developing novel therapies. Critical to heart valve tissue homeostasis is the valvular interstitial cells (VICs), which reside in the interstitium and maintain the extracellular matrix (ECM) through both protein synthesis and enzymatic degradation [1]. There is scant quantitative experimental data on the alterations of the MV fiber network reorganization as a function of load, which is critical for implementation of computational strategies that attempt to link this meso-micro scale phenomenon. The observed large scale deformations experienced by VICs…
Microstructural manipulation of electrospun scaffolds for specific bending stiffness for heart valve tissue engineering
Biodegradable thermoplastic elastomers are attractive for application in cardiovascular tissue construct development due to their amenability to a wide range of physical property tuning. For heart valve leaflets, while low flexural stiffness is a key design feature, control of this parameter has been largely neglected in the scaffold literature where electrospinning is being utilized. This study evaluated the effect of processing variables and secondary fiber populations on the microstructure, tensile and bending mechanics of electrospun biodegradable polyurethane scaffolds for heart valve tissue engineering. Scaffolds were fabricated from poly(ester urethane) urea (PEUU) and the deposition…
Geometric characterization and simulation of planar layered elastomeric fibrous biomaterials
An important class of biomaterials is composed of layered networks of elastomeric fibers. While there is a growing interest in modeling and simulation of the mechanical response of these biomaterials, a theoretical foundation for such simulations has yet to be firmly established. The present work addresses this issue in two ways. First, using methods of geometric probability we develop theoretical estimates for the linear and areal fiber intersection densities for two-dimensional fibrous networks. These are expressed in terms of the fiber density and orientation distribution function, both of which are relatively easy to measure properties. Secondly, we develop a random walk algorithm for g…