%0 Journal Article
%T The Mechanical Bidomain Model: A Review
%A Bradley J. Roth
%J ISRN Tissue Engineering
%D 2013
%R 10.1155/2013/863689
%X The mechanical bidomain model is a new mathematical description of the elastic behavior of cardiac tissue. Its primary advantage over previous models is that it accounts for forces acting across the cell membrane arising from differences in the displacement of the intracellular and extracellular spaces. In this paper, I describe the development of the mechanical bidomain model. I emphasize new predictions of the model, such as the existence of boundary layers at the tissue surface where the membrane forces are large, and pressure differences between the intracellular and extracellular spaces. Although the theoretical analysis is quite mathematical, I highlight the types of experiments that could be used to test the model predictions. Finally, I present open questions about the mechanical bidomain model that may be productive future directions for research. 1. Introduction This paper focuses on a quantitative analysis of the biomechanical forces acting on the intracellular and extracellular spaces of cardiac tissue, and especially on the coupling of these two spaces across the cell membrane. Our understanding of these forces is rudimentary, yet they may play a vital role in tissue engineering and mechanobiology. This paper concentrates on the mechanical behavior of cardiac tissue, although the results may apply to many other tissues. Before presenting a mathematical model that describes membrane forces in cardiac tissue, let us consider the biological and biomedical problems that motivate this research. Chiquet [1] reviewed remodeling of the extracellular matrix and identified integrin proteins as playing a crucial role, because ”°they physically link the extracellular matrix to the cytoskeleton and hence are responsible for establishing a mechanical continuum by which forces are transmitted between the outside and the inside of cells.”± Chiquet et al. [2] compare integrins and associated focal adhesion proteins to ”°molecular springs”± coupling mechanical forces in the intracellular and extracellular spaces. Integrins may be important in tumor biology and cancer therapy [3]. The interaction of intracellular and extracellular forces plays a role in cardiac tissue remodeling. Kresh and Chopra [4] conclude that ”°ultimately, understanding how the highly interactive mechanical signaling can give rise to phenotypic changes is critical for targeting the underlying pathways that contribute to cardiac remodeling associated with various forms of dilated and hypertrophic myopathies, myocardial infarction, heart failure, and reverse remodeling.”± Mechanotransduction
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/isrn.tissue.engineering/2013/863689/