This thesis aimed to quantify the effect of anabolic agents ascorbic acid (AA)/ proline (P) on the rates of contraction of the fibrin hydrogel scaffold as well as develop a process for increasing construct collagen content, tensile strength and widths. Supplementation with AA/ P, in combination or individually, revealed contrasting effects on the rates of fibrin gel contraction dependent on concentration and culture duration. There appeared to be strong correlations between the extents of contraction and construct collagen content. Enhancing the stiffness of the fibrin hydrogel augmented widths of the constructs but did not improve construct collagen content or tensile strength. The results further demonstrated that increasing the volume fraction of fibrin fibres present, either by increasing the total volume of reagents or by adjusting the ratio of thrombin to fibrinogen used could be utilised to modify sinew widths. Constructs prepared using a stiffer fibrin gel formulation, supplemented with AA+P, resulted in enhanced collagen content, sinew tensile strength and improved interface tensile attachment. The results also demonstrated variation in fibrin gel contraction rates and collagen production due to different cell sources, growth medium employed or the use of metal ion cofactors Zn\(^{2+}\)/ Mn\(^{2+}\), thereby suggesting areas that could be investigated further and optimized.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:636878 |
| Date | January 2015 |
| Creators | Wudebwe, Uchena Nomusa Geraldine |
| Publisher | University of Birmingham |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Source | http://etheses.bham.ac.uk//id/eprint/5719/ |
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