Load adaptation through bone remodeling: a mechanobiological model coupled with the finite element method

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2021

Authors

Peyroteo, MMA (Author) Other; Belinha, J (Author) Other; Renato Natal Jorge (Author) FEUP

Journal

Title: Biomechanics and Modeling in Mechanobiology

Vol. 20

Pages: 1495-1507

ISSN: 1617-7959

Publisher: Springer Nature

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 0 Citations

Scopus - 0 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00T-TY8

DOI: 10.1007/s10237-021-01458-0

Abstract (EN): This work proposes a novel tissue-scale mechanobiological model of bone remodeling to study bone's adaptation to distinct loading conditions. The devised algorithm describes the mechanosensitivity of bone and its impact on bone cells' functioning through distinct signaling factors. In this study, remodeling is mechanically ruled by variations of the strain energy density (SED) of bone, which is determined by performing a linear elastostatic analysis combined with the finite element method. Depending on the SED levels and on a set of biological signaling factors ( g parameters), osteoclasts and osteoblasts can be mechanically triggered. To reproduce this phenomenon, this work proposes a new set of g parameters. The combined response of osteoclasts and osteoblasts will then affect bone's apparent density, which is correlated with other mechanical properties of bone, through a phenomenological law. Thus, this novel model proposes a constant interplay between the mechanical and biological components of the process. The spatiotemporal simulation used to validate this new approach is a benchmark example composed by two distinct phases: (1) pre-orientation and (2) load adaptation. On both of them, bone is able to adapt its morphology according to the loading condition, achieving the required trabecular distribution to withstand the applied loads. Moreover, the equilibrium morphology reflects the orientation of the load. These preliminary results support the new approach proposed in this study.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 13