ENGINEERING THE VOCAL FOLD EXTRACELLULAR MATRIX

声带振荡是由组织的生物力学特性控制的。这些生物力学特性，如黏性和弹性是声带固有层细胞外基质（ECM）固有的。ECM的组成主要受成纤维细胞的控制。目前的理论支持成纤维细胞感受到的因素和力量。ECM的治疗可以通过控制影响成纤维细胞的因素来完成，或者用可注射或可植入的药物或材料直接改变CM。本研究探讨了力对成纤维细胞和ECM的影响，选择了最能影响声带生物力学的ECM注射剂，并为创造具有良好ECM特性的可植入人工基质奠定了基础。从广义上讲，声带组织工程包括许多可能的方法，这些方法最终会导致为指定的功能目的而可预见地创造或影响组织。本提案研究了可能导致未来三种临床治疗的领域，这些治疗可以通过改变ECM的成分或替换ECM来预测地管理声流的生物力学特性。这些最终的领域是：1)设计特定的语言治疗练习，使成纤维细胞暴露于导致ECM重塑的力量；2)感染来操纵成纤维细胞和/或ECM，以及4)它们的组合。

Vocal cord oscillation is governed by the biomechanical properties of the tissue. These biomechanical properties, such as viscosity and elasticity are inherent in the extracellular matrix (ECM) of the vocal fold lamina propria. The composition of the ECM is controlled mainly by the fibroblast. Current theories support factors, and forces felt by the fibroblast. Management of the ECM may be accomplished by manipulation of the factors that effect the fibroblast, or directly changing the CM with injectable or implantable agents or materials. This proposal investigates the effect of forces on the fibroblast and ECM, selects agents for injection into the ECM that optimally influence the biomechanics of the vocal fold, and lays the groundwork for creating implantable, artificial matrices with favorable ECM properties for vocal tissue oscillation. Vocal tissue engineering, in a broad sense, includes, many possible methods that ultimately lead to tissues that has been preticatble created or influenced for a designated functional purpose. This proposal investigates areas that will potentially lead to three future clinical treatments that may predictably manage the biomechanical properties of the vocal flood by changing the composition of the ECM or replacing the ECM. These eventual areas are: 1) specific speech therapy exercises designed to expose the fibroblast to forces that lead to a remodeling of the ECM; 2) infections to manipulate the fibroblast and/or ECM, and 4) combinations of these.