Hybrid discrete-continuum model for multiphysics simulations of biological systems

Biological systems often consist of constituent elements operating at distinct spatiotemporal scales. For example, calcium is a small ion that diffuses quickly throughout the cell, and signaling pathways involved with calcium are known to interact with the actin cytoskeleton. It has been suggested that a relationship between calcium and actin is involved in diverse cellular phenomena ranging from fertilization to long-term potentiation. However, due to significant differences in the spatiotemporal scales at which these components operate, biochemical reactions have often been modeled as continuous systems using differential equations, whereas discrete models have been employed to more accurately capture the dynamics and structure of actin filaments. Here, we present a novel modeling platform that combines discrete and continuum approaches to model filamentous networks coupled with biochemistry.