A full network model of complementary non-Gaussian energy explain the mechanics of biological tissue

The biophysics behind the mechanics of biology, from single molecules to the whole tissue, has been largely analyzed. The early non-Gaussian statistical mechanics has fostered fine physical models of the mechanics of DNA proteins or of the cardiovascular tissue. However, when the complexity of the physical system increases one needs to build up the assembly of a number of these elements in different configurations which usually do not reproduce the mechanical behavior obtained at the system level. A simple example can be found at the top and bottom level of the cardiovascular tissue. Collagen fibrils have been reported to be in the range 0.1-0.5GPa. However, when whole tissue is tested mechanically, the equivalent Young's modulus is found to be in the KPa range. We have developed a full network model based on a novel complementary strain energy function of non-gaussian statistical mechanics. The proposed framework is capable of reproducing the whole system response based on the actual behavior of the underlying elements. The methodology shows promising applicability in other biological systems, for instance in adhesion complexes with intricate configurations of proteins (e.g. vinculin-talin-integrin complexes).