D. Manoussaki. (2002, Nov.). Modeling and Simulation of the Formation of Vascular Networks, [Online]. pp. 108 - 114. Available: http://www.esaim-proc.org/articles/proc/pdf/2002/02/manoussaki.pdf
The formation of blood vessels is driven by chemical and mechanical interactions betweenthe cells and their extracellular matrix. New vasculature can emerge in the presence of angiogenicfactors or as a result of cell traction forces onto the extracellular matrix. The respective contributionof chemical or mechanical events during angiogenesis is still unclear.We present a mathematical model that incorporates such interactions and examine the conditionsnecessary for the formation of pattern. The model treats the extracellular matrix as a linear viscoelasticmaterial and cellular movement either as a process influenced by the local strain field or as a chemotacticmovement, in response to chemical gradients.