Tianjin Key Laboratory for Advanced Mechatronic System Design and Intelligent Control, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Mechanical and Electrical Engineering Education, School of Mechanical Engineering, Tianjin University of Technology, Tianjin, P.R. China.
Comput Methods Biomech Biomed Engin. 2024 Jan-Mar;27(4):478-488. doi: 10.1080/10255842.2023.2187738. Epub 2023 Mar 13.
The bone lacunar-canalicular system (LCS) is a unique complex 3D microscopic tubular network structure within the osteon that contains interstitial fluid flow to ensure the efficient transport of signaling molecules, nutrients, and wastes to guarantee the normal physiological activities of bone tissue. The mass transfer laws in the LCS under microgravity and hypergravity are still unclear. In this paper, a multi-scale 3D osteon model was established to mimic the cortical osteon, and a finite element method was used to numerically analyze the mass transfer in the LCS under hypergravity, normal gravity and microgravity and combined with high-intensity exercise conditions. It was shown that hypergravity promoted mass transfer in the LCS to the deep lacunae, and the number of particles in lacunae increased more significantly from normal gravity to hypergravity the further away from the Haversian canal. The microgravity environment inhibited particles transport in the LCS to deep lacunae. Under normal gravity and microgravity, the number of particles in lacunae increased greatly when doing high-intensity exercise compared to stationary standing. This paper presents the first simulation of mass transfer within the LCS with different gravity fields combined with high-intensity exercise using the finite element method. The research suggested that hypergravity can greatly promote mass transfer in the LCS to deep lacunae, and microgravity strongly inhibited this mass transfer; high-intensity exercise increased the mass transfer rate in the LCS. This study provided a new strategy to combat and treat microgravity-induced osteoporosis.
骨陷窝-小管系统 (LCS) 是骨单位内独特的复杂三维微观管状网络结构，包含间质液流动，以确保信号分子、营养物质和废物的有效运输，从而保证骨组织的正常生理活动。在微重力和超重条件下 LCS 中的质量传递规律尚不清楚。本文建立了一个多尺度 3D 骨单位模型来模拟皮质骨单位，并使用有限元方法数值分析超重、正常重力和微重力下以及结合高强度运动条件下 LCS 中的质量传递。结果表明，超重促进了 LCS 中的质量传递到深部陷窝，并且从正常重力到超重，离哈弗氏管越远，陷窝中的颗粒数量增加得越明显。微重力环境抑制了 LCS 中颗粒向深部陷窝的运输。在正常重力和微重力下，与静止站立相比，高强度运动时 LCS 中陷窝中的颗粒数量大大增加。本文首次使用有限元方法模拟了不同重力场与高强度运动相结合的 LCS 内的质量传递。研究表明，超重可以极大地促进 LCS 中向深部陷窝的质量传递，而微重力则强烈抑制这种质量传递；高强度运动增加了 LCS 中的质量传递速率。这项研究为对抗和治疗微重力引起的骨质疏松症提供了新的策略。
