Current Research

Biomechanics and Biomaterials in Orthopaedics Website

Faculty Profile - Biomechanics and Biomaterials in Orthopaedics Website

Dr. Wagner’s research focuses on the process by which mechanical loads remodel living biological tissues, particularly orthopaedic soft tissues.  The remodeling process is not well understood, but the governing principles derive from both mechanical engineering and biological sciences.  Dr. Wagner’s research interests include the underlying microstructure of collagenous tissues and how the microstructure contributes to tissue material properties, as well as the effect of mechanical loading on the tissue architecture and cellular response. In addition to conducting research on native tissue, she is interested in tissue engineering, in which cells are induced, often with mechanical loading, to create repair material for damaged tissues.  Her research combines theoretical, experimental, and computational mechanics with biological techniques.

Selected Recent Publications

Wagner D.R., Reiser K.M. and Lotz J.C. Mechanical influence of collagen crosslinks on human annulus fibrosus:  experimental results and an analytical model.  Journal of Biomechanics  2006 39(6) 1021-9.

Hsieh A.H., Wagner D.R., Cheng, L.Y., and Lotz J.C.  Dependence of Mechanical Behavior of the Murine Tail Disc on Regional Material Properties:  A parametric Finite Element Study.  Journal of Biomechanical Engineering 2005 127(7) 1158-1167.

Wagner D.R. and Lotz J.C.  A mechanistic constitutive model and experimental results for the nonlinear elastic behavior of human annulus fibrosus. Journal of Orthopaedic Research 2004 22:901-9.

Direct comments, questions, and corrections to amedept@nd.edu