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Molecular dynamics study of stiffness and rupture of axonal membranes
KTH, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health (CBH), Biomedical Engineering and Health Systems, Neuronic Engineering.ORCID iD: 0009-0001-6312-345X
KTH, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health (CBH), Biomedical Engineering and Health Systems, Neuronic Engineering.ORCID iD: 0000-0003-0125-0784
KTH, School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS), Centres, Centre for High Performance Computing, PDC.ORCID iD: 0000-0002-9573-0326
2025 (English)In: Brain Research Bulletin, ISSN 0361-9230, E-ISSN 1873-2747, Vol. 223, article id 111266Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Diffuse axonal injury (DAI), characterized by widespread damage to axons throughout the brain, represents one of the most devastating and difficult-to-treat forms of traumatic brain injury. Different theories exist about the mechanism of DAI, among which one hypothesis states that membrane poration of the axons initiates DAI. To investigate the hypothesis, molecular models of axonal membranes, incorporating 25 different lipids distributed asymmetrically in the leaflets, were developed using a coarse-grain description and simulated using molecular dynamics techniques. Different protein concentrations were embedded inside the lipid bilayer to describe the different sub-cellular parts in myelinated and unmyelinated axons. The models were investigated in equilibration and under deformation to characterize the structural and mechanical properties of the membranes, and comparisons were made with other subcellular parts, particularly myelin. Employing a bottom-top approach, the results were coupled with a finite element model representing the axon at the cell level. The results indicate that pore formation in the node-of-Ranvier occurs at a lower rupture strain compared to other axolemma parts, whereas myelin poration exhibits the highest rupture strains among the investigated models. The observed rupture strain for the node-of-Ranvier aligns with experimental studies, indicating a threshold for injury at axonal strains exceeding 10–13 % depending on the strain rate. The results indicate that the hypothesis suggesting mechanoporation triggers axonal injury cannot be dismissed, as this phenomenon occurs within the threshold of axonal injury.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Elsevier BV , 2025. Vol. 223, article id 111266
Keywords [en]
Axolemma, Diffuse axon injury, Mechanoporation, Molecular dynamics, Traumatic brain injury
National Category
Biophysics
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-361168DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2025.111266ISI: 001437805100001PubMedID: 39993508Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-85219059169OAI: oai:DiVA.org:kth-361168DiVA, id: diva2:1944123
Note

QC 20250326

Available from: 2025-03-12 Created: 2025-03-12 Last updated: 2025-03-26Bibliographically approved

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Majdolhosseini, MaryamKleiven, SveinVilla, Alessandra

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