# Physical models of embryonic epithelial healing

## TL;DR

This paper reviews physical models of how epithelial tissues heal during embryonic development, focusing on the role of cell mechanics and signaling without immune involvement.

## Contribution

The paper provides a comprehensive review of physical models for embryonic epithelial healing and suggests future directions for integrating models with experiments.

## Key findings

- Embryonic healing lacks immune responses, making it ideal for studying epithelial-driven wound healing.
- Discrete and continuum models address mechanics, signaling, and coordination during wound closure.
- Hybrid modeling and model-experiment integration are proposed to enhance understanding of epithelial repair.

## Abstract

Embryonic healing in epithelial tissues is distinct from adult wound healing, as it lacks inflammatory responses or immune cell recruitments, making it ideal to test models of wound healing driven primarily by epithelial dynamics. Many models have been developed to describe this process, ranging from simple mechanistic models to more elaborate multiscale simulations. We review different classes of physical models, from discrete to continuum models, and how they address key questions about the mechanics, signaling, and coordination of cells during wound closure. We highlight tensions between model complexity and interpretability and discuss recent efforts to bridge gaps across scales. Finally, we identify directions for hybrid modeling and model-experiment integration that could push forward our understanding of epithelial repair in development and disease.