scholarly journals Soft-Tissue-Mimicking Using Hydrogels for the Development of Phantoms

Gels ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 40
Author(s):  
Aitor Tejo-Otero ◽  
Felip Fenollosa-Artés ◽  
Isabel Achaerandio ◽  
Sergi Rey-Vinolas ◽  
Irene Buj-Corral ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Properties ◽  
Soft Tissues ◽  
Mechanical Response ◽  
Viscoelastic Behavior ◽  
Linear Elastic ◽  
Lack Of Information ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Promising Solution ◽  
Living Tissues

With the currently available materials and technologies it is difficult to mimic the mechanical properties of soft living tissues. Additionally, another significant problem is the lack of information about the mechanical properties of these tissues. Alternatively, the use of phantoms offers a promising solution to simulate biological bodies. For this reason, to advance in the state-of-the-art a wide range of organs (e.g., liver, heart, kidney as well as brain) and hydrogels (e.g., agarose, polyvinyl alcohol –PVA–, Phytagel –PHY– and methacrylate gelatine –GelMA–) were tested regarding their mechanical properties. For that, viscoelastic behavior, hardness, as well as a non-linear elastic mechanical response were measured. It was seen that there was a significant difference among the results for the different mentioned soft tissues. Some of them appear to be more elastic than viscous as well as being softer or harder. With all this information in mind, a correlation between the mechanical properties of the organs and the different materials was performed. The next conclusions were drawn: (1) to mimic the liver, the best material is 1% wt agarose; (2) to mimic the heart, the best material is 2% wt agarose; (3) to mimic the kidney, the best material is 4% wt GelMA; and (4) to mimic the brain, the best materials are 4% wt GelMA and 1% wt agarose. Neither PVA nor PHY was selected to mimic any of the studied tissues.

Nonlinear Dynamic Viscoelastic Model for Osteoarthritic Cartilage Indentation Force

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Vidal-Lesso ◽  
E. Ledesma-Orozco ◽  
R. Lesso-Arroyo ◽  
L. Daza-Benitez
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Properties ◽  
Soft Tissues ◽  
Mechanical Response ◽  
Viscoelastic Model ◽  
Viscoelastic Behavior ◽  
Indentation Test ◽  
Maxwell Model ◽  
Relaxation Curve ◽  
Geometrical Parameters ◽  
Osteoarthritic Cartilage

Biomechanical properties and dynamic response of soft tissues as articular cartilage remains issues for attention. Currently, linear isotropic models are still used for cartilage analysis in spite of its viscoelastic nature. Therefore, the aim of this study was to propose a nonlinear viscoelastic model for cartilage indentation that combines the geometrical parameters and velocity of the indentation test with the thickness of the sample as well as the mechanical properties of the tissue changing over time due to its viscoelastic behavior. Parameters of the indentation test and mechanical properties as a function of time were performed in Laplace space where the constitutive equation for viscoelasticity and the convolution theorem was applied in addition with the Maxwell model and Hayes et al. model for instantaneous elastic modulus. Results of the models were compared with experimental data of indentation tests on osteoarthritic cartilage of a unicompartmental osteoarthritis cases. The models showed a strong fit for the axial indentation nonlinear force in the loading curve (R2 = 0.992) and a good fit for unloading (R2 = 0.987), while an acceptable fit was observed in the relaxation curve (R2 = 0.967). These models may be used to study the mechanical response of osteoarthritic cartilage to several dynamical and geometrical test conditions.

scholarly journals Research and Modeling of Viscoelastic Behavior of Elastomeric Nanocomposites

2021 ◽  
pp. 76-87
Author(s):  
V. D Kislitsyn ◽  
K. A Mokhireva ◽  
V. V Shadrin ◽  
A. L Svistkov
Keyword(s):  
Constitutive Relations ◽  
Viscoelastic Behavior ◽  
Polymer Materials ◽  
Material Structure ◽  
Softening Effect ◽  
Single Walled Nanotubes ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Matrix ◽  
Entire History

The paper presents results of studying mechanical properties of polymer composites depending on types of filler particles (granular - carbon black, nanodiamonds; layered - graphene plates; fibrous - single-walled nanotubes). These nanofillers differ greatly from each other in their structure and geometry. A significant difference in behavior of nanocomposites was revealed even with little introduction of particles into the elastomer. The highest level of reinforcement of the matrix was obtained when single-wall nanotubes and detonation nanodiamonds were used as fillers. The viscoelastic properties and the Mullins softening effect [1-4] were investigated in experiments performed with material samples subjected to complex uniaxial cyclic deformation. In these experiments, the amplitude of deformations was changed step by step; and at each step a time delay was specified to complete rearrangement processes of the material structure. It was found that a pronounced softening effect after the first cycle of deformation and significant hysteresis losses occur in the material filled with single-walled nanotubes. These characteristics are insignificant for the rest of nanocomposites until elongation increases twofold. In accordance with the obtained results, a new version of the mathematical model to describe properties of the viscoelastic polymer materials was proposed. The constants of the constitutive relations were calculated for each material; the theoretical and experimental load curves were compared. As a result, the introduced model is able to describe the behavior of elastomeric nanocomposites with a high accuracy. Moreover, this model is relatively easy to use, suitable for a wide range of strain rates and stretch ratios and does not require the entire history of deformation as needed for integral models of viscoelasticity.

Progress in the Development of a Mechanical Properties Microprobe

MRS Bulletin ◽  
1986 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 15-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. C. Oliver
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Properties ◽  
Mechanical Response ◽  
Quantitative Information ◽  
General Term ◽  
Strength Properties ◽  
Physical Measurements ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Matrix ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Skilled Practitioner

A mechanical properties microprobe is an exciting concept. A system with the ability to evaluate the mechanical response of a sample with submicron spacial resolution would have an extremely wide range of applications. Recent developments in hardware and understanding have placed this goal within our grasp.In 1971, J.J.Gilman wrote the following in his article, “Hardness—A Strength Microprobe”:“Hardness measurements are at once among the most maligned and the most magnificent of physical measurements. Maligned because they are often misinterpreted by the uninitiated, and magnificent because they are so efficient in generating information for the skilled practitioner. They can quickly yield quantitative information about the elastic, anelastic, plastic, viscous, and fracture properties of a great variety of both isotropic and anisotropic solids. The tools that are used are simple and the sample sizes that are needed are typically small, sometimes submicroscopic. This makes it unnecessary to have large specimens in order to measure strength properties and makes it possible to measure the properties of various microscopic particles within the matrix phase of a polyphase metal, mineral, or ceramic material. This is why hardness may be considered to be a strength microprobe.”These statements are worth repeating for two reasons. First, they point out the largely untapped potential for microin-dentation tests to improve our understanding of the mechanical properties of materials. Second, it is the first mention of hardness tests in the context of a strength microprobe. In this article the more general term of microindentation tests will be used, since hardness is only one of many properties that can be measured with such tests. In addition, the term mechanical properties microprobe (MPM) will be used rather than strength microprobe-again, to note the wide variety of properties that can be measured.

MECHANICAL BEHAVIOR UNDER UNCONFINED COMPRESSION LOADINGS OF DENSE FIBRILLAR COLLAGEN MATRICES MIMETIC OF LIVING TISSUES

2010 ◽  
Vol 10 (01) ◽  
pp. 35-55 ◽  
Author(s):  
SALAH RAMTANI ◽  
YOSHIYUKI TAKAHASHI-IÑIGUEZ ◽  
CHRISTOPHE HELARY ◽  
DIDIER GEIGER ◽  
MARIE MADELEINE GIRAUD GUILLE
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Properties ◽  
Soft Tissues ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Fibrillar Collagen ◽  
Unconfined Compression ◽  
Collagen Scaffolds ◽  
Collagen Concentration ◽  
Collagen Matrices ◽  
Compression Load ◽  
Living Tissues

Bio-artificial tissues are being developed as replacements for damaged biologic tissues and their mechanical properties are critical for load-bearing applications. Reconstituted dense three-dimensional (3D) fibrillar collagen matrices are promising materials for tissue engineering, at the light of their interaction with fibroblasts.1,2 The mechanical properties of these fibrillar collagen matrices are now being characterized under unconfined compression loading for various strain rates and collagen concentrations. The data were compared to those obtained in the same conditions with a biological tissue, the rat dermis. The results show a very sensitive behavior to both the displacement rate, typical of biological soft tissues, and the collagen concentration varying between 5 and 40 mg/ml. The link between the mechanical properties and the microscopic structure of the collagen scaffolds show an increasing viscoelastic modulus with respect to the fibril density. It is found that the matrices at 5 mg/ml and the dorsal rat skin (DRS) exhibit similar stress–strain response when submitted to the same external unconfined compression load. Such results highlight the interest of these matrices as potential tissue substitutes.

Measurement of the axial and circumferential mechanical properties of rat skin tissue at different anatomical locations

2015 ◽  
Vol 60 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alireza Karimi ◽  
Maedeh Haghighatnama ◽  
Mahdi Navidbakhsh ◽  
Afsaneh Motevalli Haghi
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Properties ◽  
Elastic Modulus ◽  
Mechanical Behavior ◽  
Clinical Decision Making ◽  
Mechanical Response ◽  
The Body ◽  
Skin Tissue ◽  
Linear Elastic ◽  
Biomechanical Models ◽  
Nonlinear Mechanical

AbstractSkin tissue is not only responsible for thermoregulation but also for protecting the human body from mechanical, bacterial, and viral insults. The mechanical properties of skin tissue may vary according to the anatomical locations in the body. However, the linear elastic and nonlinear hyperelastic mechanical properties of the skin in different anatomical regions and at different loading directions (axial and circumferential) so far have not been determined. In this study, the mechanical properties during tension of the rat abdomen and back were calculated at different loading directions using linear elastic and nonlinear hyperelastic material models. The skin samples were subjected to a series of tensile tests. The elastic modulus and maximum stress of the skin tissues were measured before the incidence of failure. The nonlinear mechanical behavior of the skin tissues was also computationally investigated through a constitutive equation. Hyperelastic strain energy density function was calibrated using the experimental data. The results revealed the anisotropic mechanical behavior of the abdomen and the isotropic mechanical response of the back skin. The highest elastic modulus was observed in the abdomen skin under the axial direction (10 MPa), while the lowest one was seen in the back skin under axial loading (5 MPa). The Mooney-Rivlin material model closely addressed the nonlinear mechanical behavior of the skin at different loading directions, which can be implemented in the future biomechanical models of skin tissue. The results might have implications not only for understanding of the isotropic and anisotropic mechanical behavior of skin tissue at different anatomical locations but also for providing more information for a diversity of disciplines, including dermatology, cosmetics industry, clinical decision making, and clinical intervention.

Fickian Behavior and Concentration-Dependence of the Diffusion of Dextran in Agarose

2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael B. Albro ◽  
Vikram Rajan ◽  
Clark T. Hung ◽  
Gerard A. Ateshian
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Properties ◽  
Fluorescence Recovery After Photobleaching ◽  
Soft Tissues ◽  
Nutrient Transport ◽  
Mechanical Stimulus ◽  
Model System ◽  
Large Molecules ◽  
Molecular Weights ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Free Swelling

Various studies have attempted to quantify the effects of loading on nutrient transport in cartilage and other soft tissues. The application of a dynamic mechanical stimulus has been shown to significantly enhance the mechanical properties of chondrocyte-seeded agarose [1]. While the mechanism for this enhancement is still not completely understood, dynamic loading has been shown theoretically [2] as well as experimentally [3] to increase the uptake of large molecules. Since dextran is available in a wide range of molecular weights and can be conjugated with fluorphores, it has become a popular model system for studying solute transport in statically loaded and free swelling gels and tissues [4, 5]. To better characterize this model system, this study uses fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) to investigate the Fickian behavior of linear dextran macromolecules as well as the dependence of its diffusivity on concentration.

Nonlinear Model for Viscoelastic Behavior of Achilles Tendon

2010 ◽  
Vol 132 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Cyril J.F. Kahn ◽  
Xiong Wang ◽  
Rachid Rahouadj
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Data ◽  
Mechanical Properties ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Viscoelastic Behavior ◽  
Research Literature ◽  
Type I ◽  
Zealand Rabbit ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Representative Element Volume ◽  
Mechanisms Of Deformation

Although the mechanical properties of ligament and tendon are well documented in research literature, very few unified mechanical formulations can describe a wide range of different loadings. The aim of this study was to propose a new model, which can describe tendon responses to various solicitations such as cycles of loading, unloading, and reloading or successive relaxations at different strain levels. In this work, experiments with cycles of loading and reloading at increasing strain level and sequences of relaxation were performed on white New Zealand rabbit Achilles tendons. We presented a local formulation of thermodynamic evolution outside equilibrium at a representative element volume scale to describe the tendon’s macroscopic behavior based on the notion of relaxed stress. It was shown that the model corresponds quite well to the experimental data. This work concludes with the complexity of tendons’ mechanical properties due to various microphysical mechanisms of deformation involved in loading such as the recruitment of collagen fibers, the rearrangement of the microstructure (i.e., collagens type I and III, proteoglycans, and water), and the evolution of relaxed stress linked to these mechanisms.

scholarly journals Microrheology of DNA hydrogels

2018 ◽  
Vol 115 (32) ◽  
pp. 8137-8142 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhongyang Xing ◽  
Alessio Caciagli ◽  
Tianyang Cao ◽  
Iliya Stoev ◽  
Mykolas Zupkauskas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Properties ◽  
Melting Temperature ◽  
Loss Modulus ◽  
Viscoelastic Behavior ◽  
Building Blocks ◽  
Diffusing Wave Spectroscopy ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Transient Network ◽  
Gel Transition ◽  
Dna Hydrogels

A key objective in DNA-based material science is understanding and precisely controlling the mechanical properties of DNA hydrogels. We perform microrheology measurements using diffusing wave spectroscopy (DWS) to investigate the viscoelastic behavior of a hydrogel made of Y-shaped DNA (Y-DNA) nanostars over a wide range of frequencies and temperatures. We observe a clear liquid-to-gel transition across the melting temperature region for which the Y-DNA bind to each other. Our measurements reveal a cross-over between the elastic G′(ω) and loss modulus G″(ω) around the melting temperature Tm of the DNA building blocks, which coincides with the systems percolation transition. This transition can be easily shifted in temperature by changing the DNA bond length between the Y shapes. Using bulk rheology as well, we further show that, by reducing the flexibility between the Y-DNA bonds, we can go from a semiflexible transient network to a more energy-driven hydrogel with higher elasticity while keeping the microstructure the same. This level of control in mechanical properties will facilitate the design of more sensitive molecular sensing tools and controlled release systems.

Finite Element Based Nonlinear Normalization of Human Lumbar Intervertebral Disc Stiffness to Account for Its Morphology

2014 ◽  
Vol 136 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ghislain Maquer ◽  
Marc Laurent ◽  
Vaclav Brandejsky ◽  
Michael L. Pretterklieber ◽  
Philippe K. Zysset
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Properties ◽  
Intervertebral Disc ◽  
Material Properties ◽  
Soft Tissues ◽  
Mechanical Response ◽  
Parameter Study ◽  
Nonlinear Normalization ◽  
Highly Nonlinear ◽  
Flexion Extension ◽  
Linear And Nonlinear

Disc degeneration, usually associated with low back pain and changes of intervertebral stiffness, represents a major health issue. As the intervertebral disc (IVD) morphology influences its stiffness, the link between mechanical properties and degenerative grade is partially lost without an efficient normalization of the stiffness with respect to the morphology. Moreover, although the behavior of soft tissues is highly nonlinear, only linear normalization protocols have been defined so far for the disc stiffness. Thus, the aim of this work is to propose a nonlinear normalization based on finite elements (FE) simulations and evaluate its impact on the stiffness of human anatomical specimens of lumbar IVD. First, a parameter study involving simulations of biomechanical tests (compression, flexion/extension, bilateral torsion and bending) on 20 FE models of IVDs with various dimensions was carried out to evaluate the effect of the disc's geometry on its compliance and establish stiffness/morphology relations necessary to the nonlinear normalization. The computed stiffness was then normalized by height (H), cross-sectional area (CSA), polar moment of inertia (J) or moments of inertia (Ixx, Iyy) to quantify the effect of both linear and nonlinear normalizations. In the second part of the study, T1-weighted MRI images were acquired to determine H, CSA, J, Ixx and Iyy of 14 human lumbar IVDs. Based on the measured morphology and pre-established relation with stiffness, linear and nonlinear normalization routines were then applied to the compliance of the specimens for each quasi-static biomechanical test. The variability of the stiffness prior to and after normalization was assessed via coefficient of variation (CV). The FE study confirmed that larger and thinner IVDs were stiffer while the normalization strongly attenuated the effect of the disc geometry on its stiffness. Yet, notwithstanding the results of the FE study, the experimental stiffness showed consistently higher CV after normalization. Assuming that geometry and material properties affect the mechanical response, they can also compensate for one another. Therefore, the larger CV after normalization can be interpreted as a strong variability of the material properties, previously hidden by the geometry's own influence. In conclusion, a new normalization protocol for the intervertebral disc stiffness in compression, flexion, extension, bilateral torsion and bending was proposed, with the possible use of MRI and FE to acquire the discs' anatomy and determine the nonlinear relations between stiffness and morphology. Such protocol may be useful to relate the disc's mechanical properties to its degree of degeneration.

scholarly journals Two-Photon Polymerized Poly(2-Ethyl-2-Oxazoline) Hydrogel 3D Microstructures with Tunable Mechanical Properties for Tissue Engineering

Molecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (21) ◽  
pp. 5066
Author(s):  
Steffen Czich ◽  
Thomas Wloka ◽  
Holger Rothe ◽  
Jürgen Rost ◽  
Felix Penzold ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Properties ◽  
Tissue Engineering ◽  
Computer Aided Design ◽  
Evaluation Method ◽  
Structural Integrity ◽  
Viscoelastic Behavior ◽  
Main Task ◽  
Two Photon ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Tunable Mechanical Properties

The main task of tissue engineering (TE) is to reproduce, replicate, and mimic all kinds of tissues in the human body. Nowadays, it has been proven useful in TE to mimic the natural extracellular matrix (ECM) by an artificial ECM (scaffold) based on synthetic or natural biomaterials to regenerate the physiological tissue/organ architecture and function. Hydrogels have gained interest in the TE community because of their ability to absorb water similar to physiological tissues, thus mechanically simulating the ECM. In this work, we present a novel hydrogel platform based on poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline)s, which can be processed to 3D microstructures via two-photon polymerization (2PP) with tunable mechanical properties using monomers and crosslinker with different degrees of polymerization (DP) for future applications in TE. The ideal parameters (laser power and writing speed) for optimal polymerization via 2PP were obtained using a specially developed evaluation method in which the obtained structures were binarized and compared to the computer-aided design (CAD) model. This evaluation was performed for each composition. We found that it was possible to tune the mechanical properties not only by application of different laser parameters but also by mixing poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline)s with different chain lengths and variation of the crosslink density. In addition, the swelling behavior of different fabricated hydrogels were investigated. To gain more insight into the viscoelastic behavior of different fabricated materials, stress relaxation tests via nanoindentation experiments were performed. These new hydrogels can be processed to 3D microstructures with high structural integrity using optimal laser parameter settings, opening a wide range of application properties in TE for this material platform.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document