The Thibeault Laboratory
Faculty > Susan L. Thibeault
Susan L. Thibeault
Associate Professor, Surgery, Biomedial Engineering, Communicative Sciences and Disorders; Diane M Bless Endowed Chair in Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
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Aligned Research Focus: Tissue Engineering the Vocal Fold Lamina Propria
Research Description
My research program focuses on tissue engineering the extracellular matrix of the vocal fold lamina propria. To this end, my lab utilizes adult stem cells in addition to immortalized vocal fold fibroblast lines that we have developed. My lab group studies the interaction of varying cells to different synthetic hydrogels. We are also investigating the effects of mechanical forces on cell differentiation. Vocal folds undergo extreme variations in mechanical forces. We plan to compare the effects of different cells to such mechanical forces to see if cells change their differentiation.
Selected References
The response of vocal fold fibroblasts and mesenchymal stromal cells to vibration. Gaston J, Quinchia Rios B, Bartlett R, Berchtold C, Thibeault SL. PLoS One. 2012;7(2):e30965. Epub 2012 Feb 16.
The effect of mesenchymal stromal cell-hyaluronic acid hydrogel constructs on immunophenotype of macrophages. Hanson SE, King SN, Kim J, Chen X, Thibeault SL, Hematti P., Tissue Eng Part A. 2011 Oct;17(19-20):2463-71. Epub 2011 Jun 24.
Characterization of mesenchymal stem cells from human vocal fold fibroblasts. Hanson SE, Kim J, Johnson BH, Bradley B, Breunig MJ, Hematti P, Thibeault SL.Laryngoscope. 2010 Mar;120(3):546-51.
Biocompatibility of a synthetic extracellular matrix on immortalized vocal fold fibroblasts in 3-D culture. Chen X, Thibeault SL. Acta Biomater. 2010 Aug;6(8):2940-8. Epub 2010 Jan 28.
Novel isolation and biochemical characterization of immortalized fibroblasts for tissue engineering vocal fold lamina propria. Chen X, Thibeault SL. Tissue Eng Part C Methods. 2009 Jun;15(2):201-12.