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- All Subjects: Creative Project
- All Subjects: Regenerative Medicine
- Creators: Harrington Bioengineering Program
There is a wide intersection where animal and human lives interact or mimic each other behaviorally or biologically. A lot of the products that are part of our day-to-day were first validated by animals, and eventually found their way to us. From food to beauty products to scientific developments, animals deal with a lot behind the scenes. Some humans are cognizant of what is happening backstage, while others only see the final presentation. Either way, all of us have our opinions in support or against animal treatment. The project is heavily inspired from my experience in a neurorehabilitation lab, so the foundation is similar to the structure and function of neurons. Through this project, I am focusing on one aspect of this debate, which is animal testing in the scietific setting. The goal of the project is not to force the viewer to choose one side, but to understand the big picture and the reasoning of the opposing side.
Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a condition involving the weakening of the pelvic floor, with a prevalence of up to 50% of women experiencing the condition to some degree. Individuals with the condition are susceptible to multiple symptoms include vaginal protrusion, dyspareunia, and difficulties with waste excretion. Risk factors are common and numerous for POP, and the economic burden of the condition poses a significant cost to nations worldwide. For many years, the primary solution to POP was the usage of transvaginal meshes, often composed of polypropylene, but rising reports of harmful side effects have led to their recall. Due to this, the space is open for novel solutions, and treatments based in regenerative medicine are on the rise. One such potential treatment is the usage of functionalized polyvinyl alcohol scaffolds to support the regeneration and strengthening of the pelvic floor. To validate the usage of this scaffold, this study focuses on the biocompatibility of the scaffolds, with specific focus on the maintenance of cell viability and proliferation on the scaffold. Through usage of metabolic assays and fluorescence microscopy, scaffolds composed of functional polyvinyl alcohol with cellulose have shown promise in supporting the cell types necessary for reconstructing the pelvic floor.