Simulating Organogenesis in COMSOL Multiphysics: Tissue Patterning with Directed Cell Migration

Abstract

We present a COMSOL Multiphysics implementation of a continuum model for directed cell migration, a key mechanism underlying tissue self-organization and morphogenesis. The model is formulated as a partial integro-differential equation (PIDE), combining random motility with non-local, density-dependent guidance cues to capture phenomena such as cell sorting and aggregation. Our framework supports simulations in one, two, and three dimensions, with both zero-flux and periodic boundary conditions, and can be reformulated in a Lagrangian setting to efficiently handle tissue growth and domain deformation. We demonstrate that COMSOL Multiphysics enables a flexible and accessible implementation of PIDEs, providing a generalizable platform for studying collective cell behavior and pattern formation in complex biological contexts.