Functional testing of a tissue-engineered vocal fold cover replacement.
OBJECTIVE
Tissue engineering may provide a treatment for severe vocal fold scars. This study quantifies mechanical properties and demonstrates vibration of a tissue-engineered vocal fold cover replacement.


METHODS
Tissue-engineered constructs were produced from fibrin and adipose-derived stem cells. Optimized bilayered constructs contained epithelial and mesenchymal cell phenotypes in a stratified geometry. For comparison, homogeneous constructs did not have epithelial differentiation. Elastic modulus was determined using indentation. Immunohistochemical labeling for type I collagen was performed. A bilayered construct was also tested in phonation in an excised larynx model.


RESULTS
Bilayered vocal fold cover replacements had indentation moduli similar to human vocal fold covers (mean construct modulus 6.8 kPa). Collagen deposition occurred in the middle of the construct. Homogeneous constructs had a mean modulus of 8.3 kPa, and collagen was concentrated at the surface. An excised larynx with unilateral vocal fold cover replacement phonated and exhibited mucosal waves at physiologic airflow.


CONCLUSIONS
Bilayered tissue-engineered constructs were produced that exhibited indentation modulus, microstructure, and vibration similar to that exhibited by human vocal fold covers.
Long
Jennifer L
JL
Division of Head and Neck Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA. jlong@mednet.ucla.edu
Neubauer
Juergen
J
Zhang
Zhaoyan
Z
Zuk
Patricia
P
Berke
Gerald S
GS
Chhetri
Dinesh K
DK
D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000378:metabolism; D004548:Elasticity; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008422:Materials Testing; D023822:Tissue Engineering; D014732:Vibration; D014827:Vocal Cords
D024042:Collagen Type I