An electrical analog permeability model assessing fluid flow in a decellularized organ

Van Lap Nguyen; Akari Misawa; Hiromichi Obara

doi:10.1016/j.cmpb.2023.107595

An electrical analog permeability model assessing fluid flow in a decellularized organ

Comput Methods Programs Biomed. 2023 Jul:237:107595. doi: 10.1016/j.cmpb.2023.107595. Epub 2023 May 10.

Authors

Van Lap Nguyen¹, Akari Misawa², Hiromichi Obara²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Mechanical Systems Engineering, Tokyo Metropolitan University, 1-1 Minami-Osawa, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0397, Japan; Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Thuyloi University, 175 Tay Son, Dong Da, Hanoi, Vietnam. Electronic address: nguyen-van-lap@ed.tmu.ac.jp.
² Department of Mechanical Systems Engineering, Tokyo Metropolitan University, 1-1 Minami-Osawa, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0397, Japan.

PMID: 37192592
DOI: 10.1016/j.cmpb.2023.107595

Abstract

Background and objective: In recellularization, cell-seeding efficiency refers to the uniform distribution of cells across the decellularized organ, which should be enhanced to ensure effective functioning. During cell seeding, flow dynamics influence the distribution of cells because the driving force of cell movement is the fluid force. However, after decellularization, because of flow permeability through the vessel wall, the fluid pressure and velocity in the vessels of vascular trees are significantly reduced compared with those in the native organ, which might affect cell seeding efficiency. Therefore, it is necessary to assess the flow characteristics in the vessels of decellularized organs to select appropriate seeding conditions. Although electrical analog models have been widely used to investigate the flow distribution in organs, current models do not reflect the permeable conditions. This study proposes a model to extend the conventional electrical analog model to simulate the flow characteristics in decellularized organs.

Methods: A resistor reflecting permeable flow was added to the original electrical analog model to describe the permeable conditions in the decellularized organs. Decellularization and pressure drop measurements of the kidney were also conducted for model development, calibration, and validation. The developed model was then applied to a decellularized kidney to reveal changes in flow characteristics.

Results: The resistance calculation of permeable flow was determined for each generation of vascular trees. The coefficient of permeability can be indicated by the measured flow exiting through the outlet or the pressure drop across the decellularized organ. The developed permeability model had a qualitative and quantitative agreement with the experimental data without calibration. The results of the permeability model for the decellularized kidney indicated significant reductions of up to 70% in the flow rate and pressure of the organ compared to the native kidney.

Conclusions: The developed model can simulate the flow characteristics in each individual vessel of decellularized organs. The results from the model can be used to assess the optimal flow rate condition for the cell seeding process.

Keywords: Decellularized organ; Electrical analog model; Fluid dynamics; Permeable flow; Recellularization.

MeSH terms

Hydrodynamics*
Tissue Scaffolds*