Energy-based multiphase CFD framework integrating DPM and CIEM for predicting dynamic cell adhesion in porous scaffolds

Abstract

The architecture of porous scaffolds significantly influences the adhesion of seeded cells, which determines the scaffold’s final performance. However, how scaffold structure affects this process remains poorly understood. In this study, we aimed to address this challenge from the perspective of the hydromechanical microenvironment. We employed Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) method to simulate dynamic cell seeding in porous scaffolds with varying structures, using the Discrete Phase Model (DPM) to model seeded cells. A novel Cell Impingement Energy Model (CIEM) was implemented to capture cell-scaffold interactions, where adhesion was determined by impingement energy. The simulation results were validated through in vitro dynamic seeding and in vivo animal experiments. The results showed that despite comparable morphological parameters, TPMS and Voronoi scaffolds presented lower overall cell adhesion but a more uniform spatial distribution, while Diamond scaffolds exhibited higher cell adhesion, primarily localized on the surface. Adjusting the morphological parameters can improve the uniformity of cell distribution in Diamond scaffold. More importantly, the computational and experimental results were highly consistent, suggesting that CFD combining DPM and CIEM can effectively simulate dynamic cell seeding. This study presents a reliable approach for predicting cell adhesion in porous scaffolds, offering valuable insights for scaffold design and optimization.