TITLE:
Multiscale Modelling for Cerebrospinal Fluid Dynamics: Multicompartmental Poroelacticity and the Role of AQP4
AUTHORS:
Dean Chou, John C. Vardakis, Yiannis Ventikos
KEYWORDS:
Aquaporin; Hydrocephalus; Cerebrospinal Fluid; Computational Fluid Dynamics
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Biosciences and Medicines,
Vol.2 No.2,
April
29,
2014
ABSTRACT:
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is recognized to play
an important role in the brain environment and central nerv-ous system (CNS).
At the microscopic level, glial cells and water channel proteins (WCPs), also
known as aquaporins (AQPs), are believed to be central in regulating CSF.
Furthermore, such elements are postulated to associate with numerous cerebral and
neurological pathologies. The novelty of the present research is the attempt to
investigate such pathophysi-ological phenomena via a multi scale physical model
incorporating mechanisms across all scales, including the AQP effects. The
proposed physical multiscale model can explore the relationship between CSF and
glial cells via the incorporation of AQPs (as microscopic channels) and
elaborate on the macroscopic manifestations of this interplay. This study aims to
make a tangible contribution to the understanding of cerebral or neurological pathologies
via virtual physiological human (VPH) in silico.