Simultaneous elastic shape optimization for a domain splitting in bone tissue engineering

TL;DR

This paper introduces a method for optimizing the shape and distribution of elastic materials in a domain, specifically for bone tissue engineering scaffolds, balancing stability and growth in a regenerative process.

Contribution

It presents a new elastic shape optimization framework for domain splitting in tissue engineering, including existence proofs and a phase field finite element discretization.

Findings

Existence of optimal two-phase configurations established.

Finite element discretization based on phase field approximation developed.

Numerical experiments demonstrate optimal scaffold microstructure design.

Abstract

This paper deals with the simulateneous optimization of a subset $\mathcal{O}_0$ of some domain $\Omega$ and its complement $\mathcal{O}_1 = \Omega \setminus \overline{\mathcal{O}}_0$ both considered as separate elastic objects subject to a set of loading scenarios. If one asks for a configuration which minimizes the maximal elastic cost functional both phases compete for space since elastic shapes usually get mechanically more stable when being enlarged. Such a problem arises in biomechanics where a bioresorbable polymer scaffold is implanted in place of lost bone tissue and in a regeneration phase new bone tissue grows in the scaffold complement via osteogenesis. In fact, the polymer scaffold should be mechanically stable to bear loading in the early stage regeneration phase and at the same time the new bone tissue grown in the complement of this scaffold should as well bear the loading. Here, this optimal subdomain splitting problem with appropriate elastic cost functionals is introduced and existence of optimal two phase configurations is established for a regularized formulation. Furthermore, based on a phase field approximation a finite element discretization is derived. Numerical experiments are presented for the design of optimal periodic scaffold microstructure.