Multi-Agent Systems for Biomedical Simulation: Modeling Vascularization of Porous Scaffolds

An interesting application of multi-agent systems (MAS) is in modeling systems that can be represented by independent entities interacting together, the so-called agent-based modeling (ABM). In this paper MAS paradigm is used as a promising technique for representing complex biomedical systems. A brief survey of some ABM of biomedical systems is presented, followed by the description of a multi-layered agent-based framework developed in our own labs to model the process of sprouting angiogenesis (blood vessel formation) within polymeric porous scaffolds used for regenerative medicine. The ABM structure developed and challenges in modeling systems with a large number of rapidly increasing interacting agents are discussed. 2D and 3D case studies are presented to investigate the impact of scaffold pore structure on vessel growth. MAS provides a valuable tool for studying highly complex biological and biomedical systems, and for investigating ways of intervening in such systems.

[1]  Arsun Artel.  Agent-based techniques in local, autonomous and adaptive decision-making , 2010 .

[2]  Aleksander S Popel,et al.  Module-based multiscale simulation of angiogenesis in skeletal muscle , 2011, Theoretical Biology and Medical Modelling.

[3]  E. Brey,et al.  Materials for engineering vascularized adipose tissue. , 2011, Journal of tissue viability.

[4]  L. McIntire,et al.  Therapeutic neovascularization: contributions from bioengineering. , 2005, Tissue engineering.

[5]  G. An.  In silico experiments of existing and hypothetical cytokine-directed clinical trials using agent-based modeling* , 2004, Critical care medicine.

[6]  C. Patrick,et al.  Three-Dimensional, Quantitative Analysis of Desmin and Smooth Muscle Alpha Actin Expression During Angiogenesis , 2004, Annals of Biomedical Engineering.

[7]  Le Zhang,et al.  Multi-scale, multi-resolution brain cancer modeling , 2008, Math. Comput. Simul..

[8]  R. Auerbach,et al.  Tumor-induced neovascularization in the mouse eye. , 1982, Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

[9]  E. Brey,et al.  Strategies for vascularization of polymer scaffolds. , 2010, Journal of investigative medicine : the official publication of the American Federation for Clinical Research.

[10]  C. Anthony Hunt,et al.  Simulating Properties of In Vitro Epithelial Cell Morphogenesis , 2006, PLoS Comput. Biol..

[11]  Sundar Srinivasan,et al.  An agent based model for real-time signaling induced in osteocytic networks by mechanical stimuli. , 2006, Journal of biomechanics.

[12]  Jeroen Rouwkema,et al.  Vascularization in tissue engineering. , 2008, Trends in biotechnology.

[13]  Yoram Vodovotz,et al.  An agent-based model of inflammation and fibrosis following particulate exposure in the lung. , 2011, Mathematical biosciences.

[14]  F RailsbackSteven,et al.  Agent-based Simulation Platforms , 2006 .

[15]  P. Carmeliet,et al.  Angiogenesis in cancer and other diseases , 2000, Nature.

[16]  Michael Winikoff,et al.  Goals in agent systems: a unifying framework , 2008, AAMAS.

[17]  Michael Winikoff,et al.  Rich goal types in agent programming , 2011, AAMAS.

[18]  Nils J. Nilsson,et al.  A Formal Basis for the Heuristic Determination of Minimum Cost Paths , 1968, IEEE Trans. Syst. Sci. Cybern..

[19]  Steven L. Lytinen,et al.  Agent-based Simulation Platforms: Review and Development Recommendations , 2006, Simul..

[20]  L. Sattenspiel,et al.  Agent‐based modeling of the spread of the 1918–1919 flu in three Canadian fur trading communities , 2010, American journal of human biology : the official journal of the Human Biology Council.

[21]  Shayn M. Peirce,et al.  Combining experiments with multi-cell agent-based modeling to study biological tissue patterning , 2007, Briefings Bioinform..

[22]  Mehdi Dastani,et al.  Goal types in agent programming , 2006, AAMAS '06.

[23]  Michael J. North,et al.  Experiences creating three implementations of the repast agent modeling toolkit , 2006, TOMC.

[24]  Arun Krishnan,et al.  Parallel Computing Platform for the Agent-Based Modeling of Multicellular Biological Systems , 2004, PDCAT.

[25]  Shayn M Peirce,et al.  Agent-based modeling of multicell morphogenic processes during development. , 2007, Birth defects research. Part C, Embryo today : reviews.

[26]  Ali Cinar,et al.  An agent-based model for the investigation of neovascularization within porous scaffolds. , 2011, Tissue engineering. Part A.

[27]  H. Levine,et al.  Angiogenesis-A Biochemical/Mathematical Perspective , 2006 .