Effect of Collagen Fiber Tortuosity Distribution on the Mechanical Response of Arterial Tissues

Yamnesh Agrawal; Ronald N Fortunato; Alireza Asadbeygi; Michael R Hill; Anne M Robertson; Spandan Maiti

doi:10.1115/1.4067152

Effect of Collagen Fiber Tortuosity Distribution on the Mechanical Response of Arterial Tissues

J Biomech Eng. 2024 Nov 15:1-23. doi: 10.1115/1.4067152. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Yamnesh Agrawal¹, Ronald N Fortunato¹, Alireza Asadbeygi¹, Michael R Hill¹, Anne M Robertson², Spandan Maiti³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261.
² Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261; Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261.
³ Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261; Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261; Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261.

PMID: 39545747
DOI: 10.1115/1.4067152

Abstract

This study investigated the effect of collagen fiber tortuosity distribution on the biomechanical failure and prefailure properties of arterial wall tissue. An in-silico model of the arterial wall was developed using data obtained from combined multiphoton microscopy imaging and uniaxial tensile testing. Layer dependent properties were prescribed for collagen, elastin, and ground substance. Collagen fibers were modeled as discrete anisotropic elements, while elastin and ground substance were modeled as homogeneous isotropic components. Our parametric analysis, using a finite element approach, revealed that different parameters of collagen fibers tortuosity distribution significantly influence both pre-failure and failure biomechanical properties. Increased fiber tortuosity improved the tissue strength whereas the dispersion in the tortuosity distribution reduced it. This study provides novel insights into the structural-mechanical interdependencies in arterial walls, offering potential targets for clinical assessments and therapeutic interventions aimed at mitigating rupture risks.