Role of High Amplitude Vibration on Chronic Fibrotic Markers in Vocal Fold Fibroblasts
Vocal fold (VF) fibrosis involves excessive collagen accumulation in the extracellular matrix (ECM) within the mucosa, leading to increased tissue stiffness, impaired vibratory function, and permanent vocal deficits. This condition leads to coupled biomechanical and biological cascades involving inflammation, fibroblast activation, and ECM remodeling. In this study, we present a hydrogel-based VF-fibrosis microtissue that mimics native VFs and fibrosis progression under dynamic loading. By integrating hydrogel design and microfabrication, we created a multi-material platform incorporating human VF fibroblasts to simulate chronic fibrosis. This model provides a tunable, reproducible framework for studying VF fibrosis mechanisms and serves as an effective screening tool for evaluating steroid-based therapeutic strategies.