Abstract
Tissue-engineered trileaflet aortic valves are a promising alternative to current valve replacements. However, the mechanical properties of these valves are insufficient for implantation at the aortic position. To simulate the effect of collagen remodeling on the mechanical properties of the aortic valve, a finite element model is presented. In this study collagen remodeling is assumed to be the net result of collagen synthesis and degradation. A limited number of fibers with low initial fiber volume fraction is defined, and depending on the loading condition, the fibers are either synthesized or degraded. The synthesis and degradation of collagen fibers are both assumed to be functions of individual fiber stretch and fiber volume fraction. Simulations are performed for closed aortic valve configurations and the open aortic valve configuration. The predicted fiber directions for the closed configurations are close to the fiber directions as measured in the native aortic valve. The model predicts the evolution in collagen fiber content and the effect of remodeling on the mechanical properties. © 2003 Biomedical Engineering Society.
PAC2003: 8715La, 8719Rr, 8710+e, 8780Rb, 8768+z
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Alberts, B., D. Bray, J. Lewis, M. Raff, K. Roberts, and J. D. Watson. Molecular Biology of the Cell. London: Garland, 1994, 1294 pp.
American Heart Association. 2002 Heart and Stroke Statistical Update. Dallas: American Heart Association, 2001.
Barocas, V. H., and R. T. Tranquillo. An anisotropic biphasic theory of tissue-equivalent mechanics: The interplay among cell traction, fibrillar network deformation, fibril alignment, and cell contact guidance. J. Biomech. Eng.119:137–145, 1997.
Barocas, V. H., and R. T. Tranquillo. A finite element solution for the anisotropic biphasic theory of tissue-equivalent mechanics: The effect of contact guidance on isometric cell traction measurement. J. Biomech. Eng.119:261–268, 1997.
Bathe, K. J. Finite Element Procedures. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1996, 1037 pp.
Billiar, K. L., and M. S. Sacks. Biaxial mechanical properties of the native and glutaraldehyde-treated aortic valve cusp. Part I: Experimental results. J. Biomech. Eng.122:23–30, 2000.
Billiar, K. L., and M. S. Sacks. Biaxial mechanical properties of the natural and glutaraldehyde treated aortic valve cusp. Part II: A structural constitutive model. J. Biomech. Eng.122:327–335, 2000.
Dallon, J. C., J. A. Sherrat, and P. K. Maini. Mathematical modeling of extracellular matrix dynamics using discrete cells: Fiber orientation and tissue regeneration. J. Theor. Biol.199:449–471, 1999.
De Hart, J., G. W. M. Peters, P. J. G. Schreurs, and F. P. T. Baaijens. A three-dimensional computational analysis of fluid–structure interaction in the aortic valve. J. Biomech.36:103–112, 2003.
Doillon, C. J., M. G. Dunn, E. Bender, and F. H. Silver. Collagen fiber formation in repair tissue: Development of strength and toughness. Coll. Relat. Res.5:481–492, 1985.
Driessen, N. J. B., R. A. Boerboom, J. M. Huyghe, C. V. C. Bouten, and F. P. T. Baaijens. Computational analyses of mechanically induced collagen fiber remodeling in the aortic heart valve. J. Biomech. Eng.125:549–557, 2003.
Ellsmere, J. C., R. A. Khanna, and J. M. Lee. Mechanical loading of bovine pericardium accelerates enzymatic degradation. Biomaterials20:1143–1150, 1999.
Guidry, C., and F. Grinnell. Studies on the mechanism of hydrated collagen gel reorganization by human skin fibroblasts. J. Cell. Sci.79:67–81, 1985.
Hayashi, K. Biomechanical studies of the remodelling of knee joint tendons and ligaments. J. Biomech.29:707–716, 1996.
Hoerstrup, S. P., R. Sodian, S. Daebritz, J. Wang, E. A. Bacha, D. P. Martin, A. M. Moran, K. J. Guleserian, J. S. Sperling, S. Kaushal, J. P. Vacanti, F. J. Schoen, and J. E. Mayer. Functional living trileaflet heart valves grown. Circulation102:III44–III49, 2000.
Huiskes, R., R. Ruimerman, G. H. vanLenthe, and J. D. Janssen. Effects of mechanical forces on maintenance and adaptation of form in trabecular bone. Nature (London)405:704–706, 2000.
Humphrey, J. D. Remodeling of a collagenous tissue at fixed lengths. J. Biomech. Eng.121:591–597, 1999.
Kolpakov, V., M. D. Rekther, D. Gordon, W. H. Wang, and T. J. Kulik. Effect of mechanical forces on growth and matrix protein synthesis in the pulmonary artery: Analysis of the role of individual cell types. Circ. Res.77:823–831, 1995.
Lee, A. A., and A. D. McCulloch. Multiaxial myocardial mechanics and extracellular matrix remodeling: Mechanochemical regulation of cardiac fibroblast function. Adv. Exp. Med. Biol.430:227–240, 1997.
Lee, T. C., R. J. Midura, V. C. Hascall, and I. Vesely. The effect of elastin damage on the mechanics of the aortic valve. J. Biomech.34:203–210, 2001.
Mogilner, A., and G. Oster. The polymerization ratchet model explains the force-velocity relation for growing microtubules. Eur. Biophys. J.28:235–242, 1999.
Mullender, M., B. Van Rietbergen, P. Ruegsegger, and R. Huiskes. Effect of mechanical set point of bone cells on mechanical control of trabecullar bone. Bone22:125–131, 1998.
Nabeshima, Y., E. S. Grood, A. Sakurai, and J. H. Herman. Uniaxial tension inhibits tendon collagen degradation by collagenase. J. Orthop. Res.14:123–130, 1996.
O'Callaghan, C. J., and B. Williams. Mechanical-strain-induced extracellular matrix production by human vascular smooth muscle cells. Hypertension36:319–324, 2000.
Peskin, C. S., and D. M. McQueen. Mechanical equilibrium determines the fractal fiber architecture of aortic heart valve leaflets. Am. J. Physiol.266:H319–H328, 1994.
Peskin, C. S., G. M. Odell, and G. F. Oster. Cellular motions and thermal fluctuations: The Brownian ratchet. Biophys. J.65:316–324, 1993.
Prajapati, R. T., B. Chavally-Mis, D. Herbage, M. Eastwood, and R. A. Brown. Mechanical loading regulates protease production by fibroblasts in three-dimensional collagen substrates. Wound Repair Regen8:226–237, 2000.
Prajapati, R. T., M. Eastwood, and R. A. Brown. Duration and orientation of mechanical loads determine fibroblast cyto-mechanical activation: Monitored by protease release. Wound Repair Regen8:238–246, 2000.
Puxkandl, R., I. Zizak, O. Paris, J. Keckes, W. Tesch, S. Bernstorff, P. Purslow, and P. Fratzl. Viscoelastic properties of collagen: Synchotron radiation investigations and structural model. Philos. Trans. R. Soc. London, Ser. B357:191–197, 2002.
Sacks, M. S., D. B. Smith, and E. D. Hiester. A small angle light scattering device for planar connective tissue microstructural analysis. Ann. Biomed. Eng.25:678–689, 1997.
Sacks, M. S., D. B. Smith, and E. D. Hiester. The aortic valve microstructure: Effects of transvalvular pressure. J. Biomed. Mater. Res.41:131–141, 1998.
Sauren, A. A. J. H. The mechanical behavior of the aortic valve. PhD thesis, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, 1981.
Schoen, F. J., and R. J. Levy. Tissue heart valves: Current challenges and future research perspectives. Founder's Award, 25th Annual Meeting of the Society for Biomaterials. J. Biomed. Mater. Res.47:439–465, 1999.
Segal, A. Sepran User Manual, Standard Problems and Programmers Guide. Leidschendam: Ingenieursbureau SEPRA, 1984.
Sodian, R., S. P. Hoerstrup, J. S. Sperling, S. Daebritz, D. P. Martin, A. M. Moran, B. S. Kim, F. J. Schoen, J. P. Vacanti, and J. E. Mayer. Early experience with tissue-engineered trileaflet heart valves. Circulation102:III22–III29, 2000.
Takakuda, K., and H. Miyairi. Strengthening of fibrous tissues under mechanical stimuli ( experiments). JSME Int. J., Ser. A41:576–583, 1998.
Van Doorn, G. S., C. Tanase, B. M. Mulder, and M. Dogterom. On the stall force for growing microtubules. Eur. Biophys. J.29:2–6, 2000.
Van Oijen, C. H. G. A. Mechanics and Design of Fiber-Reinforced Vascular Prostheses. PhD thesis, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, 2003.
Varani, J., P. Perone, S. E. G. Fligiel, G. J. Fisher, and J. J. Voorhees. Inhibition of type I procollagen production in photodamage: Correlation between presence of high molecular weight collagen fragments and reduced procollagen synthesis. J. Invest. Dermatol.119:122–129, 2002.
Vesely, I. The role of elastin in aortic valve mechanics. J. Biomech.31:115–123, 1998.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Boerboom, R.A., Driessen, N.J.B., Bouten, C.V.C. et al. Finite Element Model of Mechanically Induced Collagen Fiber Synthesis and Degradation in the Aortic Valve. Annals of Biomedical Engineering 31, 1040–1053 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1114/1.1603749
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1114/1.1603749