Xenogeneic scaffolds for the repair of acute vocal fold lamina propria injury

描述（由申请人提供）：用于治疗以组织损伤和声带固有层缺陷为特征的喉病理的医疗和手术选择非常有限，主要是因为用于重建声带固有层细胞外基质（ECM）的最佳手术植入生物材料尚未开发。这种材料应具有与固有层ECM相似的生物力学特性和振动特性，以促进声带的功能性发声表现。它还应该能够模拟声带ECM的复杂组成，并在允许新组织形成和建设性重塑的同时提供相对持久的增强。在我们的初步研究中，我们开发了一种新型的脱细胞异种组织工程支架，来源于牛声带固有层。该项目的总体目标是研究这种生物ECM支架的体内潜力，特别是在预防和减少固有层疾病方面，以及维持和恢复固有层ECM的正常粘弹性以实现功能振动性能。在拟议的资助期内，我们将重点研究牛脱细胞支架在兔模型诱导声带损伤后立即植入固有层时，在体内预防声带瘢痕形成的功效。此外，我们将探索牛脱细胞支架在体内治疗声带瘢痕的潜力，在兔模型损伤后3天将其植入固有层。定量方法将用于比较不同时间点治疗后的声带与对侧完整或未治疗的受伤声带的组织组成、蛋白质组织和粘弹性特性。在我们提出的研究中，我们将验证从牛声带固有层提取的生物脱细胞ECM支架可以作为植入式组织替代物用于手术重建受损声带固有层的整体假设。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Very limited medical and surgical options are available for treating laryngeal pathologies characterized by tissue damage and deficiencies in the vocal fold lamina propria, largely due to the fact that an optimal, surgically implantable biomaterial for reconstruction of the vocal fold lamina propria extracellular matrix (ECM) has yet to be developed. Such a material should have biomechanical properties and vibratory properties similar to those of the lamina propria ECM, in order to facilitate functional phonatory performance of the vocal fold. It should also be able to simulate the complex composition of the vocal fold ECM, as well as provide relatively long-lasting augmentation while allowing for new tissue formation and constructive remodeling. In our preliminary studies, we have developed a novel acellular, xenogeneic tissue engineering scaffold derived from the bovine vocal fold lamina propria. The overarching goal of this project is to examine the in vivo potential of this biological ECM scaffold, specifically in terms of the prevention and reduction of lamina propria disorders, and the maintenance and restoration of normal viscoelasticity of the lamina propria ECM for functional vibratory performance. For the proposed funding period, we will focus on determining the efficacy of the bovine acellular scaffold for the prevention of vocal fold scarring in vivo, when it is being implanted into the lamina propria immediately after induced vocal fold injury in a rabbit model. Furthermore, we will explore the potential of the bovine acellular scaffold for the treatment of vocal fold scarring in vivo, when it is being implanted into the lamina propria three days after injury in the rabbit model. Quantitative methodologies will be used to compare the tissue composition, protein organization, and viscoelastic properties of the treated vocal fold at different time points to those of the contralateral intact or untreated injured vocal fold. In the proposed studies, we will test the overall hypothesis that the biological acellular ECM scaffold derived from the bovine vocal fold lamina propria can be used as an implantable tissue substitute for surgical reconstruction of the damaged vocal fold lamina propria in vivo. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Each year, an estimated 3-9% of Americans suffer from some kind of voice disorders, which adversely affect the communicative abilities, quality of life, and even the careers of individuals relying on a healthy, functional voice for their occupations. Despite the recent advances in phonosurgical approaches and therapeutic strategies, vocal fold lamina propria defects, such as vocal fold scarring, atrophy and sulcus vocalis, remain to be among the most clinically challenging disorders, due to the vulnerability of the vocal fold lamina propria to scar tissue formation and the difficulties to effectively replace the lamina propria. The proposed research explores the potential of an innovative tissue engineering scaffold to facilitate the functional reconstruction of the injured vocal fold lamina propria, and could contribute to the development of effective surgical management for such voice disorders.