ENGINEERING THE VOCAL FOLD EXTRACELLULAR MATRIX

声带振荡是由组织的生物力学特性决定的。这些生物力学特性，如粘性和弹性，是声带固有层细胞外基质(ECM)所固有的。细胞外基质的组成主要由成纤维细胞控制。目前的理论支持成纤维细胞感受到的因素和力。ECM的管理可以通过操纵影响成纤维细胞的因素来完成，或者直接用可注射或可植入的试剂或材料改变CM。该方案研究了力对成纤维细胞和细胞外基质的影响，选择了对声带生物力学有最佳影响的细胞外基质注射制剂，为构建具有良好的细胞外基质特性的可植入人工基质用于声带组织振荡奠定了基础。从广义上讲，声带组织工程包括许多可能的方法，这些方法最终导致为指定的功能目的而预先制作或影响的组织。这项提案调查了可能导致未来三种临床治疗方法的领域，这些治疗方法可能会通过改变ECM的组成或取代ECM来预测地管理声带泛滥的生物力学特性。这些最终的领域是：1)特定的语音治疗练习，旨在使成纤维细胞暴露在导致细胞外基质重塑的力中；2)感染，以操纵成纤维细胞和/或细胞外基质，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.