Date of Graduation

5-2019

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering

Degree Level

Undergraduate

Department

Biomedical Engineering

Advisor/Mentor

Rao, Raj

Abstract

Numerous studies have demonstrated the usefulness of growth factors in medium formulations to promote proliferation and viability of human fibroblasts in laboratory settings. However, due to the differences in the source and age of fibroblasts, the ability of growth factors like hFGF1 to promote proliferation varies. Equally difficult is the ability of hFGF1 to promote proliferation of diseased fibroblasts due to complexities associated with specific mitochondrial diseases. In this context, we decided to evaluate the potential for novel hyper stable growth factors super hFGF and hFGF1 (shFGF and hFGF1 respectively), to contribute to proliferation of different normal and diseased fibroblasts. In studies using different concentrations of shFGF and hFGF1, the growth rate of normal and diseased fibroblasts was determined. Our results indicate that shFGF treatment contributed to the highest increase in cell proliferation across all three cell lines, with the greatest effect on normal fibroblasts. A general trend of increase in cell number was observed in the diseased fibroblasts upon shFGF treatment. Future studies will focus on a broader evaluation of a combination of FGF variants in cell culture medium formulations in promoting proliferation of diseased fibroblasts towards contributing to an overall improvement in cellular and biochemical function in the diseased state.

Keywords

Fibroblasts, proliferation, growth factor, stem cells

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