Engineering Commons^™

Probing Vocal Fold Fibroblast Response To Hyaluronan In 3d Contexts, Dany Munoz Pinto, Andrea Jimenez-Vergara, L Gelves, Rebecca Mcmahon, Viviana Guiza-Arguello, Mariah Hahn

Dany J. Munoz Pinto

A number of treatments are being investigated for vocal fold (VF) scar, including designer implants. The aim of the present study was to validate a 3D model system for probing the effects of various bioactive moieties on VF fibroblast (VFF) behavior toward rational implant design. We selected poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) hydrogels as our base-scaffold due to their broadly tunable material properties. However, since cells encapsulated in PEGDA hydrogels are generally forced to take on rounded/stellate morphologies, validation of PEGDA gels as a 3D VFF model system required that the present work directly parallel previous studies involving more permissive scaffolds. …

Uncoupled Investigation Of Scaffold Modulus And Mesh Size On Smooth Muscle Cell Behavior, Dany Munoz Pinto, Allen Bulick, Mariah Hahn

Dany J. Munoz Pinto

Although scaffold material properties are known to critically impact cell behavior, it has proven difficult to correlate specific cell responses to isolated scaffold parameters, inhibiting rational design of scaffold material properties. The aim of this study was to validate a systematic approach for evaluating the influence of initial scaffold modulus and mesh size on cell extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition and phenotype. Poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) hydrogels were selected for this study because of their tunable material properties. Following screening of six distinct PEGDA hydrogels, three formulations were identified which permitted uncoupled investigation of scaffold mesh size and modulus within the …

Lamina Propria Cellularity And Collagen Composition: An Integrated Assessment Of Structure In Humans, Dany Munoz Pinto, Peter Whittaker, Mariah Hahn

Dany J. Munoz Pinto

Objectives: In this study, we quantitatively examined cell density, collagen types I and III, and regional variations in collagen fiber thickness and orientation in the human midmembranous vocal fold lamina propria (LP).

Methods: Lamina propria samples were solubilized with proteinase K or with cyanogen bromide. Cell density was assessed in proteinase K digests by measuring DNA and normalizing it to tissue total protein. Collagen types I and III were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay–based detection of collagen type–specific peptides generated by cyanogen bromide digestion. In addition, LP total collagen was determined by measuring sample hydroxyproline levels. Variations in collagen fiber …

Impact Of Endothelial Cells And Mechanical Conditioning On Smooth Muscle Cell Extracellular Matrix Production And Differentiation, Allen Bulick, Dany Munoz Pinto, Xin Qu, Mousami Mani, Deissy Cristancho, Matthew Urban, Mariah Hahn

Dany J. Munoz Pinto

The aim of the current study was to explore the separate and coupled effects of endothelial cell (EC) presence and mechanical conditioning on smooth muscle cell (SMC) responses by combining bilayered poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) hydrogels with a pulsatile flow bioreactor. Each construct was composed of an outer PEGDA layer containing SMC and an inner PEGDA layer, either with or without EC. After an initial 3 days of static culture, EC+ and EC− constructs were each further divided into two subgroups, half of which received mechanical conditioning mimetic of late gestation (mean pressures of ∼50 mmHg and peak-to-trough pressure differentials …