Date of Graduation
5-2025
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering
Degree Level
Undergraduate
Department
Biomedical Engineering
Advisor/Mentor
Song, Younghye
Abstract
Biomaterials play a critical role in regenerative medicine by providing structural support, modulating the injury environment, and enabling targeted therapeutic interventions. In the context of traumatic spinal cord injury (tSCI), biomaterials offer a unique platform to both investigate underlying pathological mechanisms and develop strategies for functional repair. In this study, a three-dimensional (3D) biomimetic model of tSCI is used to investigate the metabolic shifts in reactive astrocytes, and different decellularization strategies are investigated for optimal decellularization of porcine dura mater. A comprehensive understanding of the metabolic shifts in reactive astrocytes can be valuable for the development of a metabolic-derived treatment to tSCI. The collagen I fiber density within the model is manipulated with two casting approaches, and the higher fiber density activates the astrocytes. Glycolysis, oxidative phosphorylation, and glutamate shuffling activity were analyzed with modulation of the morphology and extracellular matrix binding. Results found morphology to affect these pathways inconsistently with findings from past works which suggest further addition of tSCI mimicking factors. However, inhibiting integrin-β1 from binding with extracellular collagen I has shown significant results with an upregulation of oxidative phosphorylation and decreasing glutamate shuffling activity. This calls for further mechanism study of what exact downstream signals are regulating the metabolic pathways. For the decellularization of porcine dura mater, three characteristics were mainly analyzed: genetic component removal, preservation of extracellular matrix proteins, and cell viability when incorporated into hydrogels. Out of three dura-specific and one standardized protocol, the standardized protocol was observed to be the most optimal when graded upon the three focused characteristics.
Keywords
Spinal Cord Injury; 3D Culture; Decellularization; Astrocytes; Fibrotic Scar; Metabolism
Citation
Seok, H., Ala-Kokko, N., & Baek, I. (2025). Biomaterial-Driven Approaches to Investigate Spinal Cord Injury Mechanisms and Enhance Repair Strategies. Biomedical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses Retrieved from https://scholarworks.uark.edu/bmeguht/164
Included in
Nervous System Commons, Neurology Commons, Neurosurgery Commons, Therapeutics Commons, Wounds and Injuries Commons
