Neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) affect millions of people across the world. NDD's are characterized by the death of neurons. Under specific conditions some neurites retract while others don't. While some neurites maintain their shape, some of the neurites that do retract have been observed buckling showing a wave like structure. We are interested in modeling the neurite to help determine what factors play a role in the buckling phenomenon. We model the neurite by coupling semiflexible filament dynamics with the Navier-Stokes equations to account for drag from the surrounding fluid environment. In order to determine what factors impact the neurite's buckling behavior we have looked into manipulating parameters such as the length of the neurite, force magnitude and location, bending/shear moduli, fluid viscosity, and noisiness of the initial configuration. We can then begin to understand how to identify and characterize neurite retraction and buckling by exploring the deformation of the neurite's shape with metrics such as centerline displacement, curvature, surface gradient, Procrustes distance, and length decay.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Sypek, Jackson

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• 82346
• E-project-120922-113425

Advisor

• Olson, Sarah D

Year

• 2022

Date created

• 2022-12-09

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Mathematical Sciences

Source

• E-project-120922-113425

Rights statement

• In Copyright

Last modified

• 2022-12-21