BIOMECHANICAL DETERMINANTS OF THE MECHANICAL LOAD-BEARING PROCESS OF THE WALL OF ABDOMINAL AORTIC ANEURYSM 

Supervisor: Magdalena Kobielarz, PhD

Duration: 13.02.2014 – 12.08.2017

Budget: 497 760,00 PLN

 

The abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a permanent and progressive, local enlargement of the diameter of infrarenal abdominal aorta by at least 50% compared to its proper diameter. Formation and development of the aneurysm is a threat to the patient’s life, as it may lead to an interruption of the continuity of the aneurysm wall, i.e. to its rupture. As the latest research shows, the degree of aneurysm growth is not determined by its size, but rather by disturbances in the structure of AAA walls, which relate mainly to the elements transferring mechanical loads, both passivelly, such as elastin and collagen fibers, and actively, i.e. smooth muscle cells. The degradation of these structural components leads to disturbances in the process of transfer of mechanical loads through the degenerated blood vessel wall. The ability of each material, including biological materials, to transfer loads can be assessed on the basis of its mechanical properties. The complex structure of blood vessel walls, i.e. three layers with multi-phase and composite structure of each layer, required investigation of mechanical properties taking into account the different levels in the hierarchical structure of the vessel wall. Hence, the main objective of the project is to assess: the ability of degenerated aneurysm wall structure to transfer mechanical loads, and the contribution of elastin and collagen fibers and smooth muscle cells in the process of transferring mechanical loads through the walls of abdominal aortic aneurysms.

 

Achievements:

  • Interdisciplinary of Scientific Research  (PL: Interdyscyplinarność Badań Naukowych), Wrocław, Polska, 2014 [Article1] [Article2]
  • Biomechanics 2016: International Conference of the Polish Society of Biomechanics, Biała Podlaska, Polska, 2016 [Abstract] [Poster]
  • 22nd Congress of the European Society of Biomechanics, Lion, Francja, 2016 [Abstract1] [Abstract2]