Bhattacharya, S. orcid.org/0000-0001-7285-453X and Dubey, D.K. (2025) Role of intra-lamellar collagen and hyaluronan nanostructures in annulus fibrosus on lumbar spine biomechanics: insights from molecular mechanics-finite element–based multiscale analyses. Medical & Biological Engineering & Computing, 63 (1). pp. 139-157. ISSN 0140-0118
Abstract
Annulus fibrosus’ (AF) ability to transmit multi-directional spinal motion is contributed by a combination of chemical interactions among biomolecular constituents—collagen type I (COL-I), collagen type II (COL-II), and proteoglycans (aggrecan and hyaluronan)—and mechanical interactions at multiple length scales. However, the mechanistic role of such interactions on spinal motion is unclear. The present work employs a molecular mechanics-finite element (FE) multiscale approach to investigate the mechanistic role of molecular-scale collagen and hyaluronan nanostructures in AF, on spinal motion. For this, an FE model of the lumbar segment is developed wherein a multiscale model of AF collagen fiber, developed from COL-I, COL-II, and hyaluronan using the molecular dynamics-cohesive finite element multiscale method, is incorporated. Analyses show AF collagen fibers primarily contribute to axial rotation (AR) motion, owing to angle-ply orientation. Maximum fiber strain values of 2.45% in AR, observed at the outer annulus, are 25% lower than the reported values. This indicates native collagen fibers are softer, attributed to the softer non-fibrillar matrix and higher interfibrillar sliding. Additionally, elastic zone stiffness of 8.61 Nm/° is observed to be 20% higher than the reported range, suggesting native AF lamellae exhibit lower stiffness, resulting from inter-collagen fiber bundle sliding. The presented study has further implications towards the hierarchy-driven designing of AF-substitute materials.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
---|---|
Authors/Creators: |
|
Keywords: | Lumbar spine, Annulus fibrosus, Range of motion, Collagen, Hyaluronan, Multiscale modelling |
Dates: |
|
Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Engineering & Physical Sciences (Leeds) > School of Mechanical Engineering (Leeds) > Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering (iMBE) (Leeds) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 13 Jan 2025 12:36 |
Last Modified: | 13 Jan 2025 16:05 |
Published Version: | https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11517-0... |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Springer |
Identification Number: | 10.1007/s11517-024-03184-y |
Related URLs: | |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:221624 |