Complex 3D Branching Structure Generation, Analysis and Comparison to Physiological Structure for Tissue Engineering Application

Chad Kennedy
Arizona State University

For tissue engineering and cell therapeutics to become a reality, the diffusion limitation of nutrients to implanted cells and tissues needs to be overcome. In addition, the complexity of certain structures, such as the liver, have rendered traditional approaches very limited. Therefore, the purpose of this project is to generate classes of three-dimensional branching structures using rule-based L-systems, create a method of morphological analysis, and compare the morphological indices to that of physiological branching structures. These structures would serve as templates to build living complex constructs using rapid tissue prototyping technologies developed in parallel. In addition, patterns can be fabricated via traditional rapid prototyping techniques at a much larger scale as instructional tools for microanatomy and physiology.

Created by Mathematica  (April 20, 2004)