A Microfluidic Model for the Migration of Chondrocyte Under Pulsed Electromagnetic Field

Pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) treatment is a potentially non-invasive method for tissue engineering. In this paper, a theoretical model is established to simulate the regeneration of articular cartilage for Osteoarthritis by means of pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF). The electrical field, flow field, single particle motion and concentration field during the growth of chondrocyte are obtained by solving the theoretical model numerically, which accounts for cell distribution in the culture dish. The induced electric field strength can be numerically obtained by Maxwell’s equation and then the potential distribution by the Poisson equation and Laplace equation. The chondrocytes can be driven to move once the electric field is built up. In the calculation of the flow field, the continuity and momentum equation are applied to obtain the bulk electroosmotic velocity field which will affect the motion of the charged cell due to viscous drag forces. The motion of a single particle can be obtained by the classic Newton’s second law. In addition to a single particle, the concentration distribution of particles which indicates the migration of chondrocytes can be described by the conservation law of mass. Boundary conditions are required to solve these sets of equations numerically. A comparison between model results and actual experimental data for the growth and migration of chondrocytes is performed. The results presented here allow a better understanding of the role PEMF in the treatment of Osteoarthritis.