Dresden 2014 – scientific programme

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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik

BP 8: Posters: Active cell and tissue mechanics

BP 8.10: Poster

Monday, March 31, 2014, 17:30–19:30, P3

Simulation of force transmission in random fiber networks — •Arne Monsees, Julian Steinwachs, Claus Metzner, and Ben Fabry — Biophysics Group, University of Erlangen

Self-organizing random networks of biopolymers, such as collagen gels, are routinely used as three-dimensional matrices for cell migration experiments. Methods for reconstructing the cell’s traction forces from displacement fields take into account nonlinear mechanical properties of the networks, but usually approximate it as a continuum material. In the close vicinity of the cell, this approximation fails, since there the transmission of a point force is not spherically symmetric but focused into a small set of individual fibers. We present first simulation results for networks of realistic fibers with built-in curvature and cross-links. The fibers are represented as chains of straight segments, and the discrete chain units have a stiffness with respect to streching, bending and torsional deformations. The response to a static perturbation is found by minimizing the potential energy of the system. By comparing the results to a mean field theory, we map out the limits of applicability of both approaches and explore the combined effects of nonlinearity and inhomogeneity.