Whole Cell Adaptation and Mechanical Behavior

在这个由研究者发起的奖项下，研究人员将测试细胞以机械整合的方式适应机械环境的理论。总的假设是，习惯于高应力加载的细胞将表现出比低应力加载的细胞更僵硬的方式，但两者的细胞变形将相似。整个假设将通过解决三个目标进行验证：1)开发一种使用改进的原子力显微镜来测量整个细胞的力变形特征的技术，并提供对各种加载条件下整个细胞行为的详细描述；2)使用唯象和微观力学方法建立细胞的本构数学模型；以及3)确定加载历史对成骨细胞和骨细胞的力学行为的影响，重点关注由流体流动(恒定和脉动)和骨基质变形引起的机械加载。研究结果将有助于骨适应计算模型的发展和组织工程骨替代物的设计。

0201951KeavenyUnder this Investigator Initiated Award, the investigators will test the theory that cells adapt in a mechanically integrative fashion to become tuned to their mechanical environment. The overall hypothesis is that a cell loaded habitually by high stresses will behave in a stiffer fashion than one loaded by low stresses, but that the cell deformation would be similar for both. The overall hypothesis will be tested by addressing three objectives: 1) develop a technique to measure the force deformation characteristics of whole cells using a modified atomic force microscope and provide a detailed description of the whole cell behavior for various loading conditions; 2) develop constitutive mathematical models of the cell using both phenomenological and micromechanical approaches; and 3) determine the effects of loading history on the mechanical behavior of both osteoblasts and osteocytes, with a focus on mechanical loading that result from both fluid flow (constant versus pulsatile) and bone matrix deformation. Results of the studies will contribute to the advancement of bone adaptation computational models and design of tissue-engineered bone substitutes.