TISSUE REGENERATION OF CARTILAGE: A COMBINED COMPUTATIONAL AND EXPERIMENTAL STUDY

Computational modeling of whole biological systems from cells to organs is gaining momentum in cell biology, disease studies and tissue-engineered constructs. This computational modeling is a framework for obtaining an integrated understanding of key processes, which include: nutrient transport and utilization, matrix formation, cell population dynamics, cell attachment and migration, and local cell-cell interactions. Theoretical modeling has an enormous potential in applications ranging from the interpretation of experimental results and the identification of the main governing processes, to the optimization of practical tissue engineering protocol. This article introduces a series of mathematical and computational models that the authors have used to understand the mechanisms involved in obtaining biomaterials and optimizing practical tissue engineering protocols.