Investigation of nutrient transport mechanisms in the lacunae-canaliculi system

Abstract

The aim of this study is to investigate nutrient transport mechanisms in the lacunae-canaliculi system. The latter has been identified as the main pathway for the supply of osteocytes, bone cells that play a crucial role in triggering bone remodeling-related cell activities, with vital nutrients. Recent findings suggest that their transport through the lacuna-canaliculi system is mainly driven by spatial concentration gradients and by mechanical stimuli exerted on the surrounding bone matrix, leading to changes in pore pressure and consequently to advective solute transport. Thus, the underlying mathematical framework is based on classical diffusion and Navier-Stokes equations. The set of governing equations is solved numerically, by means of the Finite Element method. Numerical studies are carried out to elucidate the influence of different loading and boundary conditions on the resulting nutrient transport. The results are finally compared to corresponding findings reported in the open bone biology literature.