A Theoretical Model to Fracture in Cell Membrane

Abstract:

A new stress function modelling the fails in biological tissue is here proposed. Under the assumption that the cell membrane may be modelled as neo-Hookean materials, we develop the problem in the framework of non-linear elasticity. We attempt to model the ice nucleation phenomenon when freezing and thawing occurs in cellular cryo-preservation. The ice seed generated surface can be either soft or wrinkled and, when the latter emerges a punch contact against the cell membrane takes place. Restricting our attention on opportune mono-dimensional sub-set, we extend the multiple critical points theorem at our model. We find a particular solution in agreement to the classical fracture models besides a response function in accordance to the stress and strain field distribution in biological materials.

• Periodical: Journal of Biomimetics, Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering (Volume 11)
• Pages: 67-71
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/JBBTE.11.67
• Online since: September 2011
• Authors: Michele Buonsanti, Antonella Pontari
• Keywords: Cellular Membrane, Fracture Energy, Freezing, Multiple Solution, Stress Concentration, Thawing

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DOI: 10.1016/j.jmaa.2004.06.034