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Project

In silico modeling of the influence of scaffold properties on the in vivo tissue regeneration response in large skeletal defects

Bone tissue engineering (TE) uses a combination of cells, biomaterials and growth factors for the treatment of large bone defects. In the current state-of-the-art, scaffolds are seeded with progenitor cells, boosted with a growth factor (cocktail) and subsequently implanted in vivo. Despite the fact that some successful results have been published, bone TE to date still suffers from unpredictable and qualitatively inferior results. A possible explanation lies in the sub-optimal cell-biomaterial combinations that lead to extensive cell death and insufficient vascularization. To bring highly qualitative and predicable TE solutions from bench to bed side we have to better understand the mechanisms by which bone can be regenerated. This requires understanding of processes occurring at tissue, cell and intracellular levels as well as their interactions. Multi-scale/multi-physics models are a valuable tool to integrate the knowledge and formulated hypotheses existing on each of the different levels. This thesis will merge two research lines developed by previous PhD students in the group, combining a detailed description of the biomaterial behavior in vivo (work Varun Manhas) with a model of the biological response to said biomaterial (work Yann Guyot). The interaction between both models takes place through the geometrical features of the scaffold (curvature-based growth) and through the products released from the scaffold over time (dissolution/degradation).

Date:10 May 2019 →  10 May 2023
Keywords:tissue engineering, mathematical model, bone regeneration, fracture healing
Disciplines:Cell, tissue and organ engineering, Tissue engineering, Biology and other natural sciences
Project type:PhD project