Dynamic Bayesian Network Modeling of Vascularization in Engineered Tissues

In this paper, we present a dynamic Bayesian network (DBN) approach to modeling vascularization in engineered tissues. Injuries and diseases can cause significant tissue loss to the degree where the body is unable to heal itself. Tissue engineering aims to replace the lost tissue through use of stem cells and biomaterials. For tissue cells to multiply and migrate, they need to be close to blood vessels, and hence proper vascularization of the tissue is an essential component of the engineering process. We model vascularization through a DBN whose structure and parameters are elicited from experts. The DBN provides spatial and temporal probabilistic reasoning, enabling tissue engineers to test sensitivity of vascularization to various factors and gain useful insights into the vascularization process. We present initial results in this paper and then discuss a number of future research problems and challenges.