Abstract
Abstract
Both computational mechanics and medical imaging play an increasingly significant role in the study of biological systems at the scales of the organism, organ system, organ, tissue, cell, and molecule. Synergies among fundamental image-based experiments, new mathematical models, and computational methods enable studies of numerous phenomena and processes, e.g.,~microphysical (mechanobiological) cellular stimuli and response, structure-function relationships in tissues, surgical interventions, organ and tissue integrity, disease initiation and progression, and engineered tissue replacements. In this chapter, we explore the use of continuum modeling in a finite element framework that is suitable for the study of complex biological tissues and engineered systems. Important to this framework is the integration of continuum mechanical modeling with image-based data acquisition. Imaging can provide a noninvasive assessment of tissues and materials, allowing for the generation of data that is minimally influenced by the acquisition method, and that can guide material parameter selection, define boundary conditions or morphology, or enable precise validation studies. We present complex models and experimental approaches, using articular cartilage as a primary study system, that can be readily expanded to a broad range of soft biological tissues and engineered materials. Additionally, we discuss the use of imaging to acquire measures of geometry, morphology, diffusion, strain, and material properties.
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