The Science, Etiology and Mechanobiology of Diabetes and its Complications

The Science, Etiology and Mechanobiology of Diabetes and Its Complications presents the most comprehensive synthesis of contemporary global research on diabetes, covering a novel and unique mechanobiological perspective – addressing prevention, management and treatment of tissue, organ and body system damage associated with diabetes and its complications. The book provides a unique approach to communicating diabetes-associated symptoms and opens avenues for development of novel therapeutic and preventive methods. It offers descriptive pathophysiology of diabetes and its complications with great emphasis on mechanobiology. Content coverage also includes management of tissue, organ and body system damage caused by chronic hyperglycemia.

Biologists, life scientists, physicians, pharmacists, biomedical engineers, medical physicists, biomathematicians and computer scientists who are interested in the state-of-science and current challenges in the mechanobiology of diabetes should find this book very useful. Likewise, medical researchers in fields such as endocrinology, cardiovascular medicine, oncology, obesity, the immune system, inflammation and wound care and others who wish to be updated about the latest achievements in this exciting arena of research will find that information here.

• Covers the state-of-knowledge in diabetes research from a mechanobiological perspective, including cell death and (neural, connective, adipose, vascular, renal etc.) tissue damage cascades and healing processes
• Describes state-of-the-art technology in prevention, diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of tissue, organ and body system damage caused by chronic hyperglycemia and diabetes
• Explores emerging research directions and future technology trends in the field of diabetes prevention and care, including common complications of diabetes (foot ulcers and amputation, peripheral neuropathy, retinal damage, renal damage, vascular and cardiac damage, connective tissue damage etc.) at the early stage of research and development in academia and industry

Scientists and engineers (such as biomedical engineers, materials engineers), biologists (including cell biologists and microbiologists, biophysicists and biochemists), research and development personnel in the diabetes care and medical device industry

Part I Mechanobiology of diabetes: Basic science aspects at the microscale
1. Effects of chronic high-glucose exposures and mechanical loads on signalling pathways in fibroblasts and adipocytes
2. Review of mathematical modelling of cell dynamics under diabetic conditions
3. Effects of hyperglycaemia and mechanical stimulations on differentiation fate of mesenchymal stem cells
4. Cell-extracellular matrix mechanotransduction phenomena and collagen network changes in connective diabetic tissues
5. Leukocyte responses to shear stress in diabetes-related cardiovascular diseases
6. Mechanotransduction of the myogenic response in diabetic tissues
7. Potential mechanobiological links between diabetes and osteoarthritis

Part II The pathomechanics of structure-function relationships in diabetic tissues and its consequences on diabetic tissue physiology
8. How diabetes impacts the biophysical and biomechanical properties of connective tissues
9. Optical coherence tomography to determine and visualize pathological skin structure changes caused by diabetes
10. The impact of diabetes on skin barrier properties
11. The influence of diabetes on structure and function of heart valve and blood vessel wall tissues
12. Corneal tissue changes in diabetes and their impact on corneal tissue function and vision
13. The impact of diabetes and diabetic neuropathy on plantar tissue structure, foot and gait function

Part III Technological innovations and bioengineering advancements in management, repair and replacement of tissues and body systems damaged by diabetes
14. Contemporary considerations in plastic surgery of tissues affected by diabetes
15. Artificial tactile systems and smart fabrics to substitute for nerve-end damage caused by diabetes
16. Novel smart insole technologies to compensate for diabetic peripheral neuropathy damage
17. Novel cell engineering interventions to treat retinal tissue damage caused by diabetes
18. Corrections of neuromuscular function impairments caused by diabetes by means of robotic wearable devices