Simulación por elementos finitos de la deformación celular en ambientes confinados

Royo Pérez, Víctor
García Aznar, José Manuel (dir.) ; Gómez Benito, Mª José (dir.)

Universidad de Zaragoza, EINA, 2016
Departamento de Ingeniería Mecánica, Área de Mec. de Medios Contínuos y Teor. de Estructuras

Graduado en Ingeniería Mecánica

Resumen: Cell migration has gained attention over the last years due to its key role in different physiological and pathological process such as embryonic development and tumour growth. Many researchers have developed studies about what stimulate the cells and the critical point in the cell mobility. In this work, we consider cell migration in microchannels, simulating the moment when the cell cross extravase to the veins. Since the tool for elaborating that is the commercial software ABAQUS, a model with an axisymmetric Walker 256 carcinosarcoma cell with Neo-Hookean hyperelastic material and a rigid tube is described. In order to do that, two different parts are considered in the cell, membrane and nucleus, both clearly identify with different properties and features. As a result of the model presented, we found that not only the fluid drag and friction help to the cellular motion, but internal and biological aspects not developed before like the contraction of myosin and mainly, the protrusion of the actin affect strongly to the cell motility. A mathematical analysis, backed by the numerical simulations of cellular deformation, indicates that polymerization phenomenon and contractility play an important role in enabling cells to modify the external shape and let them moving towards for the migration direction.

Tipo de Trabajo Académico: Trabajo Fin de Grado