Biomechanics and Modeling in Mechanobiology最新文献

{"title":"Surface-based versus voxel-based finite element head models: comparative analyses of strain responses.","authors":"Zhou Zhou, Xiaogai Li, Svein Kleiven","doi":"10.1007/s10237-025-01940-z","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10237-025-01940-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Finite element (FE) models of the human head are important injury assessment tools but developing a high-quality, hexahedral-meshed FE head model without compromising geometric accuracy is a challenging task. Important brain features, such as the cortical folds and ventricles, were captured only in a handful of FE head models that were primarily developed from two meshing techniques, i.e., surface-based meshing with conforming elements to capture the interfacial boundaries and voxel-based meshing by converting the segmented voxels into elements with and without mesh smoothing. Despite these advancements, little knowledge existed of how similar the strain responses were between surface- and voxel-based FE head models. This study uniquely addressed this gap by presenting three anatomically detailed models - a surface-based model with conforming meshes to capture the cortical folds-subarachnoid cerebrospinal fluid and brain-ventricle interfaces, and two voxel-based models (with and without mesh smoothing) - derived from the same imaging dataset. All numerical settings in the three models were exactly the same, except for the meshes. These three models were employed to simulate head impacts. The results showed that, when calculating commonly used injury metrics, including the percentile strains below the maximum (e.g., 99 percentile strain) and the volume of brain element with the strain over certain thresholds, the responses of the three models were virtually identical. Different strain patterns existed between the surface- and the voxel-based models at the interfacial boundary (e.g., sulci and gyri in the cortex, regions adjacent to the falx and tentorium) with strain differences exceeding 0.1, but remarkable similarities were noted at the non-interfacial region. The mesh smoothing procedure marginally reduced the strain discrepancies between the voxel- and surface-based model. This study yielded new quantitative insights into the general similarity in the strain responses between the surface- and voxel-based FE head models and underscored that caution should be exercised when using the strain at the interface to predict injury.</p>","PeriodicalId":489,"journal":{"name":"Biomechanics and Modeling in Mechanobiology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143603230","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Static and dynamic optimisation of fluid-filled responsive orthotic insoles","authors":"Dayna Cracknell,&nbsp;Mark Battley,&nbsp;Justin Fernandez,&nbsp;Maedeh Amirpour","doi":"10.1007/s10237-025-01935-w","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10237-025-01935-w","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This study was focused on developing an optimisation-based methodology to create customised solid–liquid composite (SLC) orthotic insoles. The goal was to reduce peak plantar pressures through gait through a dynamic numerical optimisation. A gait simulation was developed through a series of numerical models with increasing complexity. These models were validated against experimental analyses. The insole was designed based on numerical optimisation techniques that regionally tailored the insole with the aim to reduce temporal peak pressures. A prototype of the optimised insole was created using additive manufacturing and tested experimentally. The numerical gait simulation showed good correlation with experimental results. The largest differences are attributed to the bone geometry adopted from a previous study from a subject of different age, gender and size demographics. The optimisation process showed significant reductions in peak plantar pressures in the static peak pressures by approximately 8% and in the summation of dynamic peak pressures by 50%. Experimental validation confirmed the numerical predictions, highlighting the effectiveness of the optimised insole. The findings suggest that the optimised insoles can improve plantar pressure distributions and reduce peak pressures, making them a viable alternative to traditional orthotic insoles. Future research should focus on more accurate geometry for the numerical models and clinical trials.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":489,"journal":{"name":"Biomechanics and Modeling in Mechanobiology","volume":"24 2","pages":"713 - 741"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10237-025-01935-w.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143539864","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Phase-field simulation of crack growth in cortical bone microstructure: parameter identification and comparison against experiments","authors":"Jenny Carlsson,&nbsp;Olivia Karlsson,&nbsp;Hanna Isaksson,&nbsp;Anna Gustafsson","doi":"10.1007/s10237-025-01929-8","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10237-025-01929-8","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Computational models are commonly used to investigate how the cortical bone microstructure affects fracture resistance; recently, phase-field models have been introduced for this purpose. However, experimentally measured material parameters for the microstructural tissues are lacking. Moreover, as no validation studies have been published, it remains unclear to what extent classical phase-field methods, assuming linear-elastic, brittle fracture, accurately represent bone. In this study, we address both these shortcomings by first applying a design-of-experiments methodology to calibrate a set of material parameters for a two-dimensional phase-field finite element model of bovine osteonal microstructure. This was achieved by comparing the outcomes from simulation to data from single-edge notched bending experiments on bovine osteonal bone and subsequent imaging of the crack path. Second, we used these parameters in new bone geometries to evaluate the parameters and the predictive performance of the model. Reasonable agreement was achieved between prediction and experiments in terms of peak load, crack initiation toughness and crack path. However, the model is unable to capture the experimentally observed gradual evolution of damage, leading to a nonlinear force response before the onset of visible crack extension. Nor does it capture the similarly observed increase in toughness with increasing crack length. These limitations are inherent to all classical phase-field methods since they originate from theories of brittle fracture, and alternative formulations are discussed. This is the first study attempting to validate classical phase-field methods in simulation of cortical bone fracture, and it highlights both potential and limitations to be addressed in future work.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":489,"journal":{"name":"Biomechanics and Modeling in Mechanobiology","volume":"24 2","pages":"599 - 613"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10237-025-01929-8.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143536306","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Homogenized multiscale modelling of an electrically active double poroelastic material representing the myocardium","authors":"Laura Miller,&nbsp;Raimondo Penta","doi":"10.1007/s10237-025-01931-0","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10237-025-01931-0","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>In this work, we present the derivation of a novel model for the myocardium that incorporates the underlying poroelastic nature of the material constituents as well as the electrical conductivity. The myocardium has a microstructure consisting of a poroelastic extracellular matrix with embedded poroelastic myocytes, i.e. a double poroelastic material. Due to the sharp length scale separation that exists between the microscale, where the individual myocytes are clearly resolved from the surrounding matrix, and the length of the entire heart muscle, we can apply the asymptotic homogenization technique. The novel PDE model accounts for the difference in the electric potentials, elastic properties as well as the differences in the hydraulic conductivities at different points in the microstructure. The differences in these properties are encoded in the coefficients and are to be computed by solving differential cell problems arising when applying the asymptotic homogenization technique. We present a numerical analysis of the obtained Biot’s modulus, Young’s moduli as well as shears and the effective electrical activity. By investigating the poroelastic and electrical nature of the myocardium in one model, we can understand how the differences in elastic displacements between the extracellular matrix and the myocytes affect mechanotransduction and the influence of disease.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":489,"journal":{"name":"Biomechanics and Modeling in Mechanobiology","volume":"24 2","pages":"635 - 662"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10237-025-01931-0.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143497565","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Constitutive neural networks for main pulmonary arteries: discovering the undiscovered","authors":"Thibault Vervenne,&nbsp;Mathias Peirlinck,&nbsp;Nele Famaey,&nbsp;Ellen Kuhl","doi":"10.1007/s10237-025-01930-1","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10237-025-01930-1","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Accurate modeling of cardiovascular tissues is crucial for understanding and predicting their behavior in various physiological and pathological conditions. In this study, we specifically focus on the pulmonary artery in the context of the Ross procedure, using neural networks to discover the most suitable material model. The Ross procedure is a complex cardiac surgery where the patient’s own pulmonary valve is used to replace the diseased aortic valve. Ensuring the successful long-term outcomes of this intervention requires a detailed understanding of the mechanical properties of pulmonary tissue. Constitutive artificial neural networks offer a novel approach to capture such complex stress–strain relationships. Here, we design and train different constitutive neural networks to characterize the hyperelastic, anisotropic behavior of the main pulmonary artery. Informed by experimental biaxial testing data under various axial-circumferential loading ratios, these networks autonomously discover the inherent material behavior, without the limitations of predefined mathematical models. We regularize the model discovery using cross-sample feature selection and explore its sensitivity to the collagen fiber distribution. Strikingly, we uniformly discover an isotropic exponential first-invariant term and an anisotropic quadratic fifth-invariant term. We show that constitutive models with both these terms can reliably predict arterial responses under diverse loading conditions. Our results provide crucial improvements in experimental data agreement, and enhance our understanding into the biomechanical properties of pulmonary tissue. The model outcomes can be used in a variety of computational frameworks of autograft adaptation, ultimately improving the surgical outcomes after the Ross procedure.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":489,"journal":{"name":"Biomechanics and Modeling in Mechanobiology","volume":"24 2","pages":"615 - 634"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10237-025-01930-1.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143481893","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Higher-order thermal modeling and computational analysis of laser ablation in anisotropic cardiac tissue","authors":"Federica Bianconi,&nbsp;Massimiliano Leoni,&nbsp;Argyrios Petras,&nbsp;Emiliano Schena,&nbsp;Luca Gerardo-Giorda,&nbsp;Alessio Gizzi","doi":"10.1007/s10237-025-01926-x","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10237-025-01926-x","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Laser ablation techniques employ fast hyperthermia mechanisms for diseased-tissue removal, characterized by high selectivity, thus preserving the surrounding healthy tissue. The associated modeling approaches are based on classical Fourier-type laws, though a limited predictivity is observed, particularly at fast time scales. Moreover, limited knowledge is available for cardiac tissue compared to radiofrequency approaches. The present work proposes a comprehensive modeling approach for the computational investigation of the key factors involved in laser-based techniques and assessing the outcomes of induced cellular thermal damage in the cardiac context. The study encompasses a comparative finite element study involving various thermal and cellular damage models incorporating optical–thermal couplings, three-state cellular death dynamics, and a second-order heat transfer formulation generalizing the classical Fourier-based heat equation. A parametric investigation of the thermal profiles shows that higher-order models accurately capture temperature dynamics and lesion formation compared with the classical Fourier-based model. The results highlight the critical role of cardiac anisotropy, influencing the shape and extent of thermal damage, while the three-state cell death model effectively describes the transition from reversible to irreversible damage. These findings demonstrate the reliability of higher-order thermal formulations, laying the basis for future investigations of arrhythmia management via in silico approaches.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":489,"journal":{"name":"Biomechanics and Modeling in Mechanobiology","volume":"24 2","pages":"559 - 577"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10237-025-01926-x.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143481898","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Microstructural remodeling under single fiber tensional homeostasis recreates distinctive ex vivo mechanical behavior of arteries","authors":"Ruturaj M. Badal,&nbsp;Ryan R. Mahutga,&nbsp;Patrick W. Alford,&nbsp;Victor H. Barocas","doi":"10.1007/s10237-025-01934-x","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10237-025-01934-x","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The arterial wall is a structurally complex material, exhibiting both nonlinearity and anisotropy in its mechanics, with the compelling consequence that the end plate force in a pressure-stretch experiment can increase or decrease with pressure depending on the axial stretch of the vessel. Furthermore, it has long been observed that the axial stretch at which the ex vivo pressure-force curve is flat is close to the in vivo axial stretch, but the mechanism driving this phenomenon has remained unclear. By employing and modifying a custom plugin that represents tissue components as networks, we computationally tested the hypothesis that tensional homeostasis at the microscopic scale could lead to the macroscopic pressure-invariant axial force effect observed at in vivo axial stretch. Our findings suggest that remodeling events for individual fibers to achieve a target stress can, acting in aggregate, cause the vessel to exhibit a pressure-invariant axial force in the pressure-force experiment without any explicit sensing of the pressure-force behavior during remodeling. Computational isolation of tissue components suggested that remodeling of collagen fibers is a primary driver of this result. Further as long seen experimentally, the pressure-force curve plateau occurred at stretches close to the in vivo remodeling stretch. </p></div>","PeriodicalId":489,"journal":{"name":"Biomechanics and Modeling in Mechanobiology","volume":"24 2","pages":"701 - 712"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143481905","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Optimisation of romosozumab plus denosumab sequential treatments against postmenopausal osteoporosis. Insights from in silico simulations","authors":"Rocío Ruiz-Lozano,&nbsp;José Luis Calvo-Gallego,&nbsp;Peter Pivonka,&nbsp;Javier Martínez-Reina","doi":"10.1007/s10237-024-01900-z","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10237-024-01900-z","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Drug treatments against osteoporosis are commonly divided into anti-catabolic and anabolic. Anti-catabolic drugs reduce bone turnover and increase bone mass mainly through mineralization of the existing bone matrix. Anabolic drugs, on the other hand, enhance osteoblastic activity, resulting in new bone formation. Treatments are often limited to a few years due to reported side effects, which increases fracture risk upon discontinuation. Switching to a different drug is a common strategy. However, it is not clear what is the best combination of a dual-drug therapy, the lapse between treatments and other parameters defining the combination. In this study, we conducted in silico trials to assess the efficacy of two drugs: denosumab (anti-catabolic) and romosozumab (anabolic and anti-catabolic). Our simulations indicate that starting treatment with romosozumab leads to greater bone mass gain. This is because anti-catabolic treatments reduce bone rate and, due to osteoblast-osteoclast coupling, the number of osteoblast precursors. Romosozumab increases the proliferation of these precursors, so their population should be maximised for optimal efficacy. Therefore, prior administration of an anti-catabolic drug may be counterproductive to the effectiveness of romosozumab. We also found that a rest period between treatments does not benefit bone mass gain. Furthermore, concurrent administration of romosozumab and denosumab results in greater bone mass gain and might be worth investigating in future clinical trials. Finally, we showed that reduction of fracture risk in patients undergoing sequential treatments is dose dependent and consequently, dosage could be optimised in a patient-specific manner.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":489,"journal":{"name":"Biomechanics and Modeling in Mechanobiology","volume":"24 2","pages":"383 - 404"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143412675","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Bridging biomechanics with neuropathological and neuroimaging insights for mTBI understanding through multiscale and multiphysics computational modeling","authors":"Zhibo Du,&nbsp;Jiarui Zhang,&nbsp;Xinghao Wang,&nbsp;Zhuo Zhuang,&nbsp;Zhanli Liu","doi":"10.1007/s10237-024-01924-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10237-024-01924-5","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) represents a significant public health challenge in modern society. An in-depth analysis of the injury mechanisms, pathological forms, and assessment criteria of mTBI has underscored the pivotal role of craniocerebral models in comprehending and addressing mTBI. Research indicates that although existing finite element craniocerebral models have made strides in simulating the macroscopic biomechanical responses of the brain, they still fall short in accurately depicting the complexity of mTBI. Consequently, this paper emphasizes the necessity of integrating biomechanics, neuropathology, and neuroimaging to develop multiscale and multiphysics craniocerebral models, which are crucial for precisely capturing microscopic injuries, establishing pathological mechanical indicators, and simulating secondary and long-term brain functional impairments. The comprehensive analysis and in-depth discussion presented in this paper offer new perspectives and approaches for understanding, diagnosing, and preventing mTBI, potentially contributing to alleviating the global burden of mTBI.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":489,"journal":{"name":"Biomechanics and Modeling in Mechanobiology","volume":"24 2","pages":"361 - 381"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143397670","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The relationship between regional mechanical properties and hemodynamic indices of the aortic arch: a preliminary study","authors":"Yawei Zhao,&nbsp;Yifan Cao,&nbsp;Fen Li,&nbsp;Chenjia Zhang,&nbsp;Yike Shi,&nbsp;Hui Song,&nbsp;Lingfeng Chen,&nbsp;Weiyi Chen","doi":"10.1007/s10237-025-01927-w","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10237-025-01927-w","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This study aimed to investigate the relationship between regional elastic modulus and corresponding hemodynamic indices of healthy aortic arch. Porcine aortic arches (<i>n</i>=18) were obtained from a local abattoir and divided into 24 regions along axial and circumferential directions. Regional elastic modulus was measured by indentation tests, and elastic fiber content was assessed using Elastica van Gieson (EVG) staining. Additionally, a porcine aortic model was reconstructed based on computed tomography angiography (CTA) images, and local hemodynamic indices were calculated by the two-way fluid–structure interaction (FSI) method. The elastic modulus and elastic fiber content were inclined to be lower on the outer curvature of the aortic arch, particularly showing significant differences at the distal end. A negative correlation was found between elastic modulus and time-averaged wall shear stress (TAWSS)<span>((r_{s}=-0.762, textit{p}=0.028)</span>) at the proximal end of the porcine aortic arch. There was a significant positive correlation between elastic modulus and oscillatory shear index (OSI)<span>((r_{s}=0.714, textit{p}=0.047))</span> at the middle of the aortic arch. The regional elastic modulus of healthy porcine aortic arch is associated with local TAWSS and OSI. The hemodynamic environment could be a contributing factor influencing the distribution of the mechanical properties on the arch.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":489,"journal":{"name":"Biomechanics and Modeling in Mechanobiology","volume":"24 2","pages":"579 - 588"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143187915","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}