title: Therapeutic potential of gel-based injectables for vocal fold regeneration.
abstract: Vocal folds are anatomically and biomechanically unique, thus complicating the design and implementation of tissue engineering strategies for repair and regeneration. Integration of an enhanced understanding of tissue biomechanics, wound healing dynamics and innovative gel-based therapeutics has generated enthusiasm for the notion that an efficacious treatment for vocal fold scarring could be clinically attainable within several years. Fibroblast phenotype and gene expression are mediated by the three-dimensional mechanical and chemical microenvironment at an injury site. Thus, therapeutic approaches need to coordinate spatial and temporal aspects of the wound healing response in an injured vocal tissue to achieve an optimal clinical outcome. Successful gel-based injectables for vocal fold scarring will require a keen understanding of how the native inflammatory response sets into motion the later extracellular matrix remodeling, which in turn will determine the ultimate biomechanical properties of the tissue. We present an overview of the challenges associated with this translation as well as the proposed gel-based injectable solutions.
authors.affiliation: Division of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, 5107 Wisconsin Institutes for Medical Research, University of Wisconsin, 1111 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI, USA.
authors.forename: Rebecca S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Bartlett
authors.forename: Susan L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Thibeault
authors.forename: Glenn D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Prestwich
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005782:Gels / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D048091:Guided Tissue Regeneration / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000639:trends*; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000639:trends*; D014826:Vocal Cord Paralysis / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D005782:Gels