Molecular Micro Modeling of the Heart Muscle

The understanding of cardiac function and its role in heart diseases can be significantly advanced through computational modeling of the heart muscle at molecular and microstructural levels. Gaining insights into the structural and functional aspects of cardiac muscle, particularly the role of calcium ions in regulation of muscle contraction, is crucial for the development of effective treatments for heart diseases. Multiscale modeling offers a holistic view of the heart muscle function from molecular to organ levels, providing new insights into the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Here we examine molecular interaction dynamics and multiscale computational models, including simulations of the experiments in solutions, motility assays, and muscle fibers/tissues, vital for analyzing genetic mutations and potential drug therapies’ impact on improving the human heart muscle functional behavior. These computational tools are instrumental in elucidating interactions within cardiac muscle and the mechanisms underlying heart diseases. Utilizing these advanced computational techniques integrated with experimental data at various temporal and spatial scales enriches the quantitative understanding of underlying biochemical processes, leading to more accurate predictions of human heart function in health and disease. Finally, we also discuss the challenges and future directions in computational cardiology, highlighting the potential of these models in advancing heart disease research.