Computer simulations in connective tissue research: successes and challenges

Abstract

Connective tissue research traditionally has been experimental in nature, with computational tools used primarily for data analysis and statistical treatment. However, recent developments in mechanics, chemistry, and physics have provided researchers with new and rich computational tools to study numerous high value problems in the field. Among the problems being tackled, complex cell-matrix interactions have attracted significant interest. Researchers have started to address issues at the molecular, macromolecular, cellular, and tissue level through a combination of theory, simulation, and analysis. While there have been numerous successes in this field, new research has highlighted newer and bigger challenges and a close connection between experiment and simulation is needed to tackle high value problems in connective tissue biology.