Combining Lattice Boltzmann and Agent-Based Modeling to Model the Behavior of Cancer Cells In-Vitro

In this paper, a hybrid numerical model is used to simulate the growth of cancer cells in-vitro. This model combines the agent-based model (ABM) that is used to simulate the progression of individual cancer cells and the lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) that is used to simulate the change of distribution of nutrients within the system, that is used by these cells within the observed domain. Results of a numerical simulation, that include the change of number of viable, necrotic and apoptotic cells over time are presented. The parameters of the numerical model can be estimated using experimental data and this can provide additional quantitative information about the behavior of cancer cells and about the influence of diverse drug treatments considered experimentally on these parameters. Numerical simulations like the one presented in this paper can be very useful in planning future experiments as they can provide means for a more in-depth analysis of a variety of phenomena occurring during the cell life-cycle.