Modelling skin wound healing angiogenesis: A review

Abstract

The occurrence of wounds is a main health concern in Western society due to their high frequency and treatment cost. During wound healing, the formation of a functional blood vessel network through angiogenesis is an essential process. Angiogenesis allows the reestablishment of the normal blood flow, the sufficient exchange of oxygen and nutrients and the removal of metabolic waste, necessary for cell proliferation and viability. Mathematical and computational models provide new tools to improve the healing process. In fact, over the last thirty years, in silico models have been continuously formulated to describe the effect of several biological and mechanical factors in angiogenesis during wound healing. Additionally, with different levels of complexity, these models allow coupling the human skin structure, to distinct cell types and growth factors, to study extracellular matrix composition and to understand its deformation. This paper discusses how in silico models, which are more economical and less time-consuming comparatively to laboratory methodologies, can help test new strategies to promote/optimize angiogenesis. The continuum, cell-based and hybrid mathematical models of wound healing angiogenesis are reviewed in the present paper, in order to identify possible improvements. Accordingly, the development of higher dimension models incorporating multiscale analysis at molecular, cellular and tissue level remains a challenge that future models should consider.

Keywords: Angiogenesis modulation; Computational modelling; Human skin.