Using vocally inspired mechanical conditioning to enhance the synthesis of a cell-derived biomaterial

The collection of cell-derived extracellular matrix (ECM) to form implantable biomaterials has therapeutic potential. However, a significant challenge to the creation of these biomaterials is the ability to produce an adequate quantity of ECM from cells in culture. Mechanical stimulation has long been viewed as a practical means to enhance cellular matrix production. In this study we explored the influence of vocally inspired mechanical stimulation, a unique combination of high frequency vibration and low frequency strain, on the production of ECM. Using a custom fabricated vocal bioreactor, tracheal fibroblast seeded sacrificial foams were treated for 3 weeks using either isolated cyclic strain, combined cyclic strain and vibration (dual mode), or static conditioning. When compared to static controls, ECM production was significantly increased for samples conditioned with either cyclic strain or dual mode stimulation. The quantity of ECM harvested from sacrificial foams increased from 25 ± 1 mg for statically conditioned control foams, to 34 ± 3 and 52 ± 10 mg for cyclic strain and dual mode conditioned samples respectively. Furthermore, mechanical conditioning significantly increased the elastic modulus of ECM biomaterials collected from sacrificial foams. Static control modulus increased from 40 ± 2 to 63 ± 7 kPa and 92 ± 7 kPa following isolated cyclic strain and dual mode conditioning, respectively. These results indicate that cyclic strain conditioning can be used to accelerate the production of ECM by human tracheal cells during growth in culture, and that the addition of high frequency vibration to the conditioning program further enhances ECM production.