Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
In-Silico Models as a Tool for the Design
of Specific Treatments: Applications in Bone
Regeneration
Esther Reina-Romo, Marıa Jos´eGomez-Benito, Libardo Andres
Gonzalez-Torres, Jaime Domınguez, and Jose Manuel Garcıa-Aznar
Abstract
Numerous pathologies related to bone regeneration such as bone healing
or distraction osteogenesis are focus of intense research nowadays since there
are many cues not well understood yet. Intense activity is performed in both
experimental and computational fields. However, in silico models may play a
relevant role since computer simulations allow considering and controlling factors
that cannot be easily controlled or measured in experimental tests. In addition,
experiments can be time-consuming, expensive and with a high difficulty to control
all the parameters. This review addresses some of the main problems of in-silico
models and focus on bone healing and distraction osteogenesis as mechanical based
pathologies extensively investigated in the last decades.
1
Introduction
The design of new technologies in medicine and biology requires the develop-
ment of in-vitro and in-vivo experiments needed to test different hypotheses that
allow understanding observable phenomena. Identifying the molecular, cellular and
macroscopic behavior of a specific pathology is essential to control the disease and
significantly improve patient survival. However, these experiments can be time-
consuming, expensive and with a high difficulty to control all the parameters.
In such cases, in-silico modeling can play a relevant role because computer sim-
ulations allow considering and controlling factors that cannot be easily controlled or
E. Reina-Romo (
)•J.Domınguez
Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Seville, Seville, 41092, Spain
e-mail:
erreina@us.es
;
jaime@us.es
M.J. Gomez-Benito • L.A. Gonzalez-Torres • J.M. Garcıa-Aznar
Aragon Institute of Engineering Research (I3A), University of Zaragoza, C/Marıa de Luna 5,
“Agustın de Betancourt” Building, Zaragoza, 50018, Spain
e-mail:
gomezmj@unizar.es
;
landresg@unizar.es
;
jmgaraz@unizar.es
