Numerical and experimental modelling of bone mechanobiologie – BoNoBio

Our bones have a self-regeneration ability. Damaged bone areas are identified and remodeled with a new matrix. To better understand this mechanism and hence develop new biomaterials for bone regeneration, several models are under development. While animal modeling remains a necessary step during the biomaterial development, it raises ethical issue and will be limited in the future. Developing numerical and experimental models of bone remodeling as alternatives to animal testing thus becomes urgent. The success for such modelling tools lies in the rigorous definition of boundary conditions. Due to bone mechanosensitivity, biomechanical boundary conditions are particularly important. Since de 1990’s, the main biomechanical condition considered in models of bone remodeling is the fluid-flow induced by bone matrix deformation. But while the intramedullary pressure (ImP) has been shown to regulate bone remodelling, it has never been considered as a boundary condition. The objective of BoNoBio is then to integrate this ImP as a biomechanical boundary condition in models of different natures to better understand of bone remodelling models. A geometrical model of the osteocytes network based on tomographic data will be set up to numerically assessed the influence of the ImP on interstitial fluids. Furthermore, the influence of this pressure to promote osteoblasts migration and differentiation into osteocytes will be evaluated in vitro. Finally, an ex vivo models will be developed to investigate the mechanobiological behavior of bone living explants subjected to both mechanical loading and ImP. Through this multimodal approach, BoNoBio provide a complete methodology to better evaluate the influence of one parameter on bone remodeling.