ABSTRACT
Angiogenesis is the process that ensures the formation of a functional vascular network that sustains tissue homeostasis. The success of this process is dependent on endothelial cell migration, main regulated by chemotaxis. Several growth factors regulate angiogenesis; however, the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is the main one. In this study, the relevance of using a meshless method to study angiogenesis was addressed. Accordingly, the endothelial cells migrate according to a diffusion-reaction equation, following the VEGF gradient concentration. With this approach, it was possible to simulate angiogenesis and to obtain a capillary network comparable to the one existing in vivo, regarding its structure and morphology.
