Modéliser les cellules comme des objets déformables 3D couplant biomécanique et chimie
Résumé
Cells can be seen as deformable dynamic objects. We present some modeling and simulation researches that are a first step towards the elaboration of a cell simulator for biologists. This cell simulator is based on dynamic computer-graphics 3D approaches, that combines mechanisms of diverse origins (cell elasticity, cytoskeleton dynamics, chemical reactions) at different time scales (from the second to the minute) and length scales (from micrometers to tens of millimeters). In this simulator, cells are defined as deformable objects that explicitly take into account chemical reactions (taking place inside the cell or on the extracellular matrix) as well as the dynamics of cell displacement. Behavior laws are defined between cells and types of cells in order to allow for different types of contact interactions (cell-cell, cell-substrate), their dynamic evolutions (sliding, rolling over) and their consequences on the cell or tissue architecture. This approach is presented "from the bottom-up" using a step-by-step process to build the simulator : 3D geometry, elasticity, contractility, adhesion, biomechanics-chemistry coupling. A variety of simulations are shown including the simulation of experimental techniques such as micromanipulation or behaviour such as cell aggregation, cell motility, chemiotaxis, and haptotaxis.