Inverse poroelasticity as a fundamental mechanism in biomechanics and mechanobiology

Alexander E. Ehret (), Kevin Bircher, Alberto Stracuzzi, Vita Marina, Manuel Zündel and Edoardo Mazza ()
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Alexander E. Ehret: Institute for Mechanical Systems
Kevin Bircher: Institute for Mechanical Systems
Alberto Stracuzzi: Institute for Mechanical Systems
Vita Marina: Institute for Mechanical Systems
Manuel Zündel: Institute for Mechanical Systems
Edoardo Mazza: Institute for Mechanical Systems

Nature Communications, 2017, vol. 8, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: Abstract Understanding the mechanisms of deformation of biological materials is important for improved diagnosis and therapy, fundamental investigations in mechanobiology, and applications in tissue engineering. Here we demonstrate the essential role of interstitial fluid mobility in determining the mechanical properties of soft tissues. Opposite to the behavior expected for a poroelastic material, the tissue volume of different collagenous membranes is observed to strongly decrease with tensile loading. Inverse poroelasticity governs monotonic and cyclic responses of soft biomembranes, and induces chemo-mechanical coupling, such that tensile forces are modulated by the chemical potential of the interstitial fluid. Correspondingly, the osmotic pressure varies with mechanical loads, thus providing an effective mechanism for mechanotransduction. Water mobility determines the tissue’s ability to adapt to deformation through compaction and dilation of the collagen fiber network. In the near field of defects this mechanism activates the reversible formation of reinforcing collagen structures which effectively avoid propagation of cracks.

Date: 2017
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-00801-3

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