Bridging the gap: towards a digital twin to optimize therapeutic cell-seeding strategies in nerve tissue engineering
Abstract
Peripheral nerve injuries impose a substantial strain on the lives of millions of people worldwide. Engineered neural tissues provide a promising avenue to improve peripheral nerve repair strategies, potentially allowing the precise seeding of cells and materials that support regenerative processes. Current optimization of cell-seeding strategies relies on testing the impact of relevant parameters in vivo, requiring considerable time and resources. We propose an alternative approach to the design of cellular hydrogels based on a mathematical cell–solute model, informed via in vitro experiment, to identify promising cell-seeding strategies in silico at a limited cost. These designs are manufactured using 3D-printed moulds and validated in vivo. We evaluate the regenerative potential of these designs by focusing on the impact of different cell-seeding strategies on vascular endothelial growth factor secretion and gradient generation, both crucial elements of regenerative angiogenesis in early nerve repair. In this way, we provide a first proof-of-concept of a digital twin for nerve tissue engineering, which uses in silico, in vitro and in vivo repair models.
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BibTeX
@article{guillemotlegris2026bridging,
title = {{Bridging the gap: towards a digital twin to optimize therapeutic cell-seeding strategies in nerve tissue engineering}},
author = {Owein Guillemot-Legris and Maxime Berg and Poppy O. Smith and James B. Phillips and Rebecca J. Shipley},
journal = {Journal of the Royal Society Interface},
year = {2026},
month = jun,
doi = {10.1098/rsif.2025.0879},
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05849078v1},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Bridging the gap: towards a digital twin to optimize therapeutic cell-seeding strategies in nerve tissue engineering
AU - Owein Guillemot-Legris
AU - Maxime Berg
AU - Poppy O. Smith
AU - James B. Phillips
AU - Rebecca J. Shipley
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/06/24
JO - Journal of the Royal Society Interface
DO - 10.1098/rsif.2025.0879
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05849078v1
AB - Peripheral nerve injuries impose a substantial strain on the lives of millions of people worldwide. Engineered neural tissues provide a promising avenue to improve peripheral nerve repair strategies, potentially allowing the precise seeding of cells and materials that support regenerative processes. Current optimization of cell-seeding strategies relies on testing the impact of relevant parameters in vivo, requiring considerable time and resources. We propose an alternative approach to the design of cellular hydrogels based on a mathematical cell–solute model, informed via in vitro experiment, to identify promising cell-seeding strategies in silico at a limited cost. These designs are manufactured using 3D-printed moulds and validated in vivo. We evaluate the regenerative potential of these designs by focusing on the impact of different cell-seeding strategies on vascular endothelial growth factor secretion and gradient generation, both crucial elements of regenerative angiogenesis in early nerve repair. In this way, we provide a first proof-of-concept of a digital twin for nerve tissue engineering, which uses in silico, in vitro and in vivo repair models.
SN - 1742-5689
SN - 1742-5662
ER -