title: Formulation and characterization of a porous, elastomeric biomaterial for vocal fold tissue engineering research.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Biomaterials able to mimic the mechanical properties of vocal fold tissue may be particularly useful for furnishing a 3-dimensional microenvironment allowing for in vitro investigation of cell and molecular responses to vibration. Motivated by the dearth of biomaterials available for use in an in vitro model for vocal fold tissue, we investigated polyether polyurethane (PEU) matrices, which are porous, mechanically tunable biomaterials that are inexpensive and require only standard laboratory equipment for fabrication.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rheology, dynamic mechanical analysis, and scanning electron microscopy were performed on PEU matrices at 5%, 10%, and 20% w/v mass concentrations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For 5%, 10%, and 20% w/v concentrations, shear storage moduli were 2 kPa, 3.4 kPa, and 6 kPa, respectively, with shear loss moduli being 0.2 kPa, 0.38 kPa, and 0.62 kPa, respectively. Storage moduli responded to applied frequency as a linear function. Mercury intrusion porosimetry revealed that all 3 mass concentrations of PEU have a similar overall percentage porosity but differ in pore architecture.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Twenty-µm diameter pores are ideal for cell seeding, and a range of mechanical properties indicates that the lower [corrected] mass concentration PEU formulations are best suited for mimicking the viscoelastic properties of vocal fold tissue for in vitro research.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.
authors.forename: Joel
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gaston
authors.affiliation: Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.
authors.forename: Rebecca S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Bartlett
authors.affiliation: Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA.
authors.forename: Sarah A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Klemuk
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA thibeaul@surgery.wisc.edu.
authors.forename: Susan L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Thibeault
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D020724:Elastomers; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing; D011108:Polymers; D011140:Polyurethanes; D016062:Porosity; D012212:Rheology; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds; D014827:Vocal Cords
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D020724:Elastomers; D011108:Polymers; D011140:Polyurethanes; C036925:elastomeric polymer; C115016:polyetherurethane
keywords: Tecoflex; cellular therapy; elasticity; mechanomimetic; polyether polyurethane; rheology; vocal folds