Finite Element Modeling

Amanda Meppelink

Although progress is being made in effective muscle tissue engineering, these engineered constructs still lack the functional strength of native muscle. This shortcoming may be improved if there was a better understanding of the muscle’s mechanics. This would allow the design of tissue constructs to directly address these properties. We are collaborating with Dr. Silvia Blemker’s Multiscale Muscle Mechanophysiology (M3) Lab at UVa to develop finite element models of injured and treated models. These models can then be used to assess the resulting functional recovery following various treatments and determine the properties needed to restore full function. Specifically, we have begun to look at the mechanical properties of constructs before and after implantation in in vivo models. The combination of our tissue engineering and surgical expertise and M3 Lab’s modeling knowledge will help us translate muscle engineered va btherapies to the clinic.