Modelling of a Single Cardiomyocyte Interaction with a Microcantilever Using COMSOL Multiphysics®

I. Banerjee[1]
[1]Tampere University of Technology, Tampere, Finland
发布日期 2013

: One of the most commonly used techniques for quantification of beating forces exerted by cardiomyocytes is culturing them on a bed of vertical microcantilevers or microposts. The position of the microcantilevers is observed through advanced imaging techniques and the displacements are observed over a period of time. The stiffness of the microcantilevers is known and thus the force can be calculated from the displacements observed. In this paper, an effort is made to develop a computational model of the interactions between the cardiomyocytes and the microcantilevers based on the Fluid-Structure Interaction interface in COMSOL Multiphysics®. The cardiomyocyte along with its culturing medium is considered as a homogenous fluid exerting forces on the microcantilevers as they start maturing and beating.