ENGINEERING THE VOCAL FOLD EXTRACELLULAR MATRIX

声带振动是由组织的生物力学特性决定的。这些生物力学性质，如粘性和弹性是固有的细胞外基质（ECM）的声带固有层。ECM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量。ECM的管理可以通过操纵影响成纤维细胞的因素或用可注射或可植入的试剂或材料直接改变CM来实现。该提案研究了力对成纤维细胞和ECM的影响，选择了用于注射到ECM中的最佳影响声带生物力学的试剂，并为创建具有用于声带组织振荡的有利ECM特性的可植入人工基质奠定了基础。从广义上讲，声乐组织工程包括许多可能的方法，最终导致组织已被preticatble创建或影响指定的功能目的。该提案调查了可能导致三种未来临床治疗的领域，这些临床治疗可以通过改变ECM的组成或更换ECM来可预测地管理声带洪水的生物力学特性。这些最终领域是：1）设计成纤维细胞暴露于导致ECM重塑的力的特定语言治疗练习; 2）操纵成纤维细胞和/或ECM的感染，和4）这些的组合。

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.