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Oxidized Fibrin Alginate Microbeads To Treat Vascular Calcification, Brittany Nichole Macha

Theses and Dissertations

Calcification is linked to a high prevalence of cardiovascular events and mortality due to arterial stiffness. Stiffening of the arteries in the case of medial calcification is due to hydroxyapatite mineral deposited in the artery thus leading to the loss of elastin. A possibility of removing this rogue mineral along the vessel walls could be the use of osteoclasts. Osteoclasts, a type of osteocyte, have the unique ability to absorb bone in the bone turnover process. It is proposed that in the future, osteoclasts be delivered to the site of mineralization through oxidized alginate-fibrin microbeads. Alginate hydrogels have proven great …