Need for a Continuum Biochemomechanical Theory of Soft Tissue and Cellular Growth and Remodeling

This chapter is motivated by the observation that diverse soft tissues and cells exhibit remarkable adaptations in response to changes in their chemomechanical environment, and that there is a pressing need for mathematical models to integrate information from the rapidly expanding data bases on such adaptations. Although both the biological motivation and the theoretical framework presented herein apply generally to soft tissues and cells, ideas are illustrated by focusing on the vasculature. Toward this end, note that it has been said by many in different ways, but it was said particularly well by (

1992

): ‘The blood vessel is no longer considered to be simply a non-thrombogenic passive conduit for blood flow. Rather, it is increasingly viewed as a continually-adapting, physically and chemically interdependent network of elements with the common goal of maintaining optimal function in response to continually changing hemodynamic and metabolic conditions’. I submit that mathematical models can help us to understand better the complex adaptations (and maladaptations) manifested by vascular tissues and cells, for such models can build intuition via simulations that contrast the effects of competing hypotheses, they can help guide the design and interpretation of revealing experiments, and they can be used to design improved clinical interventions and medical devices.