Programa del congreso

The study of cell behavior, including migration, proliferation, and differentiation in response to growth factors, is fundamental for understanding tissue regeneration and engineered microenvironments. Previous computational studies have often assumed a constant or pre-defined gradient of growth factors, which does not fully capture the dynamic and localized release patterns observed in reality. In this work, we present a computational model that incorporates the time-dependent release of growth factors from porous microcapsules embedded within the extracellular matrix (ECM). The release mechanism is governed by Fick’s law of diffusion with a spatially varying diffusion coefficient (capsule core, porous membrane, and ECM).

Cell migration is modeled through a stress-strain equilibrium framework, while the cell maturation index (MI) is introduced as a time-dependent parameter that regulates key biological processes, including proliferation, differentiation, maturation, and apoptosis. The finite element method is employed to solve the coupled system of equations describing diffusion, mechanics, and cellular dynamics. Model predictions are compared with previously reported experimental results to ensure biological relevance and consistency.

Simulation results demonstrate that cells initially migrate toward the central region of the ECM, where mechanical stiffness is highest, before progressing toward the microcapsules as growth factors diffuse outward. Furthermore, the spatial arrangement of microcapsules is shown to significantly influence the directionality and extent of cell migration, highlighting the importance of controlled release strategies in regulating cellular behavior. This framework provides a versatile computational tool for studying localized drug delivery systems and their impact on cell-microenvironment interactions.