Design and validation of a bioreactor for engineering vocal fold tissues under combined tensile and vibrational stresses.
Criteria are outlined for the design of a bioreactor that can simulate the vibrational stresses in vocal fold movement during speech. Requirements are 0-1 mm amplitudes in the 20-200 Hz frequency range, a variable on-off stress regime, and maintenance of tissue viability over several days. The bioreactor uses dual drivers, one for low frequency (or static) strains, and another for high-frequencies vibrational strains. Response is linear at the driving end for an input of 0-5 V. The amplitude decreases linearly with frequency at constant input voltage, and the phase changes by nearly 180 degrees over the 20-200 Hz range. Human vocal fold fibroblasts were cultured in a polymer substrate and subjected to static and vibrational forces. The results indicate that vibratory strain alters the expression levels of many extracellular matrix-related genes, as well as the spatial distribution of cells and matrix.
Titze
Ingo R
IR
Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.
Hitchcock
Robert W
RW
Broadhead
Kelly
K
Webb
Ken
K
Li
Wenhua
W
Gray
Steven D
SD
Tresco
Patrick A
PA
D019149:Bioreactors; D002470:Cell Survival; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004594:Electrophysiology; D004867:Equipment Design; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000502:physiology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007830:Larynx / Q000502:physiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000503:physiopathology; D023822:Tissue Engineering; D014732:Vibration; D014827:Vocal Cords / Q000502:physiology*
D012333:RNA, Messenger