A theoretical model for the remodeling of collagen gels is proposed. The collagen fabric is modeled as a network of collagen fibers, which in turn are composed of collagen fibrils. In the model, the strengthening of collagen fabric is accomplished by fibroblasts, which continuously recruit and attach more collagen fibrils to existing collagen fibers. The fibroblasts also accomplish a reorientation of collagen fibers. Fibroblasts are assumed to reorient collagen fibers toward the direction of maximum material stiffness. The proposed model is applied to experiments in which fibroblasts were inserted into a collagen gel. The model is able to predict the force-strain curves for the experimental collagen gels, and the final distribution of collagen fibers also agrees qualitatively with the experiments.
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November 2010
Research Papers
Modeling of Fibroblast-Controlled Strengthening and Remodeling of Uniaxially Constrained Collagen Gels
Martin Kroon
Martin Kroon
Department of Solid Mechanics,
e-mail: martin@hallf.kth.se
Royal Institute of Technology
, Osquars Backe 1, 100 44 Stockholm, Sweden
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Martin Kroon
Department of Solid Mechanics,
Royal Institute of Technology
, Osquars Backe 1, 100 44 Stockholm, Swedene-mail: martin@hallf.kth.se
J Biomech Eng. Nov 2010, 132(11): 111008 (7 pages)
Published Online: October 20, 2010
Article history
Received:
December 16, 2008
Revised:
July 25, 2009
Posted:
September 30, 2010
Published:
October 20, 2010
Online:
October 20, 2010
Citation
Kroon, M. (October 20, 2010). "Modeling of Fibroblast-Controlled Strengthening and Remodeling of Uniaxially Constrained Collagen Gels." ASME. J Biomech Eng. November 2010; 132(11): 111008. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4002666
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