Mechanical Analysis of Heterogeneous, Atherosclerotic Human Aorta

1998 ◽  
Vol 120 (5) ◽  
pp. 602-607 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Beattie ◽  
C. Xu ◽  
R. Vito ◽  
S. Glagov ◽  
M. C. Whang

An experimental technique was developed to determine the finite strain field in heterogeneous, diseased human aortic cross sections at physiologic pressures in vitro. Also, the distributions within the cross sections of four histologic features (disease-free zones, lipid accumulations, fibrous intimal tissue, and regions of calcification) were quantified using light microscopic morphometry. A model incorporating heterogeneous, plane stress finite elements coupled the experimental and histologic data. Tissue constituent mechanical properties were determined through an optimization strategy, and the distributions of stress and strain energy in the diseased vascular wall were calculated. Results show that the constituents of atherosclerotic lesions exhibit large differences in their bilinear mechanical properties. The distributions of stress and strain energy in the diseased vascular wall are strongly influenced by both lesion structure and composition. These results suggest that accounting for heterogeneities in the mechanical analysis of atherosclerotic arterial tissue is critical to establishing links between lesion morphology and the susceptibility of plaque to mechanical disruption in vivo.

Author(s):  
Ryan A. Koppes ◽  
Nathan R. Schiele ◽  
Douglas M. Swank ◽  
Douglas B. Chrisey ◽  
David T. Corr

The loss of functional muscle as a product of genetic disease, traumatic injury, or surgical excisions results in a physiological deficiency that still remains without an effective clinical treatment [1]. Engineering of functional tissue in vitro for replacement in vivo might pose as a potential remedy for this clinical demand. By approaching tissue engineering from the bottom-up, geometrically directing myoblast growth provides a means for constructing tissue replacements cell-by-cell versus the traditional decellularized construct that remains limited by its size and ability to deliver cellular nutrients. Furthermore, geometrically controlling the growth of myoblasts allows for direct manipulation of the structural and mechanical properties inherent to muscular tissue.


Author(s):  
Chad E. Eckert ◽  
Michael S. Sacks

Understanding growth and remodeling of extracelluar matrix (ECM) embedded in a scaffold phase is crucial for improving tissue engineering efforts, especially within the context of a mechanically-demanding enviroment to which engineered heart valve tissues (EHVT) are subjected. Our previous modeling efforts at short in vitro timepoints (one to three weeks) [1] illustrated the strong dependency of ECM-scaffold composite mechanical properties on that of the existing continuous scaffold phase. In this work, we build on these efforts by developing a generalized, large-deformation continuum-based model for short timepoint in vitro/in vivo environments and validating it using a ECM-analog system to simulate remodeling tissue. It is our intent to estimate the ECM mechanical quality from the measured scaffold-ECM composite.


2011 ◽  
Vol 110 (1) ◽  
pp. 176-187 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Åstrand ◽  
J. Stålhand ◽  
J. Karlsson ◽  
M. Karlsson ◽  
B. Sonesson ◽  
...  

The mechanical properties of the aorta affect cardiac function and are related to cardiovascular morbidity/mortality. This study was designed to evaluate the isotropic (mainly elastin, elastiniso) and anisotropic (mainly collagen, collagenani) material parameters within the human aorta in vivo. Thirty healthy men and women in three different age categories (23–30, 41–54, and 67–72 yr) were included. A novel mechanical model was used to identify the mechanical properties and the strain field with aid of simultaneously recorded pressure and radius in the abdominal aorta. The magnitudes of the material parameters relating to both the stiffness of elastiniso and collagenani were in agreement with earlier in vitro studies. The load-bearing fraction attributed to collagenani oscillated from 10 to 30% between diastolic and systolic pressures during the cardiac cycle. With age, stiffness of elastiniso increased in men, despite the decrease in elastin content that has been found due to elastolysis. Furthermore, an increase in stiffness of collagenani at high physiological pressure was found. This might be due to increased glycation, as well as changed isoforms of collagen in the aortic wall with age. A marked sex difference was observed, with a much less age-related effect, both on elastiniso and collagenani stiffness in women. Possible factors of importance could be the effect of sex hormones, as well as differing collagen isoforms, between the sexes.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Erfan Dashtimoghadam ◽  
Farahnaz Fahimipour ◽  
Andrew N. Keith ◽  
Foad Vashahi ◽  
Pavel Popryadukhin ◽  
...  

AbstractCurrent materials used in biomedical devices do not match tissue’s mechanical properties and leach various chemicals into the body. These deficiencies pose significant health risks that are further exacerbated by invasive implantation procedures. Herein, we leverage the brush-like polymer architecture to design and administer minimally invasive injectable elastomers that cure in vivo into leachable-free implants with mechanical properties matching the surrounding tissue. This strategy allows tuning curing time from minutes to hours, which empowers a broad range of biomedical applications from rapid wound sealing to time-intensive reconstructive surgery. These injectable elastomers support in vitro cell proliferation, while also demonstrating in vivo implant integrity with a mild inflammatory response and minimal fibrotic encapsulation.


Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 1797
Author(s):  
Manuel Toledano ◽  
Marta Vallecillo-Rivas ◽  
María T. Osorio ◽  
Esther Muñoz-Soto ◽  
Manuel Toledano-Osorio ◽  
...  

Barrier membranes are employed in guided bone regeneration (GBR) to facilitate bone in-growth. A bioactive and biomimetic Zn-doped membrane with the ability to participate in bone healing and regeneration is necessary. The aim of the present study is to state the effect of doping the membranes for GBR with zinc compounds in the improvement of bone regeneration. A literature search was conducted using electronic databases, such as PubMed, MEDLINE, DIMDI, Embase, Scopus and Web of Science. A narrative exploratory review was undertaken, focusing on the antibacterial effects, physicochemical and biological properties of Zn-loaded membranes. Bioactivity, bone formation and cytotoxicity were analyzed. Microstructure and mechanical properties of these membranes were also determined. Zn-doped membranes have inhibited in vivo and in vitro bacterial colonization. Zn-alloy and Zn-doped membranes attained good biocompatibility and were found to be non-toxic to cells. The Zn-doped matrices showed feasible mechanical properties, such as flexibility, strength, complex modulus and tan delta. Zn incorporation in polymeric membranes provided the highest regenerative efficiency for bone healing in experimental animals, potentiating osteogenesis, angiogenesis, biological activity and a balanced remodeling. Zn-loaded membranes doped with SiO2 nanoparticles have performed as bioactive modulators provoking an M2 macrophage increase and are a potential biomaterial for promoting bone repair. Zn-doped membranes have promoted pro-healing phenotypes.


Cells ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 778 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruben Daum ◽  
Dmitri Visser ◽  
Constanze Wild ◽  
Larysa Kutuzova ◽  
Maria Schneider ◽  
...  

Appropriate mechanical properties and fast endothelialization of synthetic grafts are key to ensure long-term functionality of implants. We used a newly developed biostable polyurethane elastomer (TPCU) to engineer electrospun vascular scaffolds with promising mechanical properties (E-modulus: 4.8 ± 0.6 MPa, burst pressure: 3326 ± 78 mmHg), which were biofunctionalized with fibronectin (FN) and decorin (DCN). Neither uncoated nor biofunctionalized TPCU scaffolds induced major adverse immune responses except for minor signs of polymorph nuclear cell activation. The in vivo endothelial progenitor cell homing potential of the biofunctionalized scaffolds was simulated in vitro by attracting endothelial colony-forming cells (ECFCs). Although DCN coating did attract ECFCs in combination with FN (FN + DCN), DCN-coated TPCU scaffolds showed a cell-repellent effect in the absence of FN. In a tissue-engineering approach, the electrospun and biofunctionalized tubular grafts were cultured with primary-isolated vascular endothelial cells in a custom-made bioreactor under dynamic conditions with the aim to engineer an advanced therapy medicinal product. Both FN and FN + DCN functionalization supported the formation of a confluent and functional endothelial layer.


2022 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 411-416
Author(s):  
Liang Tang ◽  
Si-Yu Zhao ◽  
Ya-Dong Yang ◽  
Geng Yang ◽  
Wen-Yuan Zhang ◽  
...  

To investigate the degradation, mechanical properties, and histocompatibility of weft-knitted silk mesh-like grafts, we carried out the In Vitro and In Vivo silk grafts degradation assay. The In Vitro degradation experiment was performed by immersing the silk grafts in simulated body fluid for 1 year, and the results showed that the degradation rate of the silk mesh-like grafts was very slow, and there were few changes in the mechanical properties and quality of the silk mesh-like graft. In Vivo degradation assay was taken by implantation of the silk mesh-like grafts into the subcutaneous muscles of rabbits. At 3, 6, and 12 months postoperation, the rate of mass loss was 19.36%, 31.84%, and 58.77%, respectively, and the maximum load was 63.85%, 34.63%, and 10.76%, respectively of that prior to degradation. The results showed that the degradation rate of the silk graft and the loss of mechanical properties In Vivo were faster than the results obtained in the In Vitro experiments. In addition, there were no significant differences in secretion of serum IL-6 and TNF-α between the experimental and normal rabbits (P >0.05), suggesting no obvious inflammatory reaction. The findings suggest that the weft-knitted silk mesh-like grafts have good mechanical properties, histocompatibility, and In Vivo degradation rate, and therefore represent a candidate material for artificial ligament


2003 ◽  
Vol 125 (6) ◽  
pp. 893-901 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ei Yamamoto ◽  
Susumu Tokura ◽  
Kozaburo Hayashi

Effects of cyclic stress on the mechanical properties of collagen fascicles were studied by in vitro tissue culture experiments. Collagen fascicles (approximately 300 μm in diameter) obtained from the rabbit patellar tendon were applied cyclic load at 4 Hz for one hour per day during culture period for one or two weeks, and then their mechanical properties were determined using a micro-tensile tester. There was a statistically significant correlation between tensile strength and applied peak stress in the range of 0 to 5 MPa, and the relation was expressed by a quadratic function. The maximum strength (19.4 MPa) was obtained at the applied peak stress of 1.8 MPa. The tensile strength of fascicles were within a range of control values, if they were cultured under peak stresses between 1.1 and 2.6 MPa. Similar results were also observed in the tangent modulus, which was maintained at control level under applied peak stresses between 0.9 and 2.8 MPa. The stress of 0.9 to 1.1 MPa is equivalent to approximately 40% of the in vivo peak stress which is developed in the intact rabbit patellar tendon by running, whereas that of 2.6 to 2.8 MPa corresponds to approximately 120% of the in vivo peak stress. Therefore, the fascicles cultured under applied peak stresses of lower than 40% and higher than 120% of the in vivo peak stress do not keep the original strength and modulus. These results indicate that the mechanical properties of cultured collagen fascicles strongly depend upon the magnitude of the stress applied during culture, which are similar to our previous results observed in stress-shielded and overstressed patellar tendons in vivo.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erfan Dashtimoghadam ◽  
Farahnaz Fahimipour ◽  
Andrew Keith ◽  
Foad Vashahi ◽  
Pavel Popryadukhin ◽  
...  

Abstract Current materials used in biomedical devices do not match tissue’s mechanical properties and leach various chemicals into the body. These deficiencies pose significant health risks that are further exacerbated by invasive implantation procedures. Herein, we leverage the brush-like polymer architecture to design and administer minimally invasive injectable elastomers that cure in vivo into leachable-free implants with mechanical properties matching the surrounding tissue. This strategy allows tuning curing time from minutes to hours, which empowers a broad range of biomedical applications from rapid wound sealing to time-intensive reconstructive surgery. These injectable elastomers support in vitro cell proliferation, while also demonstrating in vivo implant integrity with a mild inflammatory response and minimal fibrotic encapsulation.


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