A Microstructural Data Driven Multiscale Model for the Enzymatic Degradation and Remodeling of Collagen Networks

Collagen proteases actively participate in remodeling soft tissues. Recent work has demonstrated that metalloproteinases (MMP) and bacterial collagenases (BC) exhibit strain-dependent degradation kinetics [2]. Ascertaining how such nanoscale degradation shapes collagenous tissues at the macroscale is vital to our understanding of collagen management within tissues. As a first step towards this goal, we have developed a multiscale model for the enzymatic degradation and remodeling of collagen networks. Such a model will be useful in understanding the etiology of diseases related to collagen management (such as arthritis and fibrotic disorders), in simulating soft tissue development, and in helping engineer improved biomimetic tissues.