Numerical analysis of scaffold degradation in cryogenic environment: impact of cell migration and cell apoptosis

The analysis of degradation in the presence of cell death and migration is a critical aspect of research in various biological fields, such as tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, and disease pathology. In present study, numerical study of degradation of scaffold were performed in present of cells, cell apoptosis and cell migration. A poly electrolyte complex (PEC) silk fibroin scaffold was used for degradation study. Degradation study in the presence of cells and migration were performed at fixed pH concentration 7.2. Similarly, degradation study of scaffold were performed at different pH cell apoptosis. A transient analysis of scaffold was evaluated in COMSOL 5.5 in presence of cryogenic temperature at different temperature gradient. The parameters; temperature, stress, strain tensor and deformation gradient associated with the degradation of polyelectrolyte complex scaffold were evaluated. Result shows that in both geometries minimum temperature had been achieved as 230.051 K at point P4 in series view and parallel view and at a point P3 for cell migration study for -5 k min-1 and -1 k min-1, respectively. The maximum stress had been generated for 5.57 x 107 N m-2 for the temperature gradient of -2 K min-1 at T cycle in the case of cell migration study. In contrast in series view the maximum stress 2.9 x 107 N m-2 were observed at P4 which was higher as compare to P3. Similarly, for a parallel view, maximum stress (3.93 x 107 N m-2) was obtained for point P3. It had been observed that the maximum strain tensor 5.21 x 10-3, 5.15 x 10-3 and 5.26 x 10-3 was generated in series view at 230 k on a point P3 for - 1, -2 and -5 K min-1, respectively. Similarly, the maximum strain tensor 8.16 x 10-3, 8.09 x 10-3 and 8.09 x 10-3 was generated in parallel view at 230 k on a point P3 for -1, -2 and -5 K min-1, respectively. In the presence of cells, at a point P4 for temperature gradient of -1 and -2 K min-1, it had been closed to the scaffold wall, which had a different temperature profile than the point P3 and scaffold comes to the contact with the cells. The analysis of PEC scaffold degradation in the presence of cells, including cell apoptosis and migration, offers significant insights into the relationship between scaffold properties, cell behaviour, and tissue regeneration.