Intramural uterine fibroids are non-cancerous tumors within the myometrium of the uterus. Fibroids affect over 75% of women, yet few in vitro models exist. Therefore, little research has been done to investigate how altered molecular transport (e.g., oxygen, hormones, small molecules) within fibroids affects their behavior and that of the surrounding tissue. To recapitulate fibroid associated changes to molecular transport in vitro, the team developed two in vitro modelling approaches— one utilizing a chemical induction of hypoxia in 2D cultured cells via Cobalt Chloride supplemented media and one that uses an alginate overlay to modulate molecular transport to cells encapsulated within an underlying 3D hydrogel. We evaluated the stiffness of the hydrogel formulations, the viability of the cells under model conditions and the diffusion of representative salts through the hydrogel materials. Key words: fibroid, myometrium, hypoxia, in vitro modelling

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Hernon, Livia
• Finberg, Eleanor
• Foote, Tiffany
• Strojny, Emily
• Kelly, Anna

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-043024-112630
• 122143

Keyword

• Women's Health
• fibroid
• myometrium
• in vitro modeling
• hypoxia

Advisor

• Whittington, Catherine Faye
• Faber, Brenton

Year

• 2024

Date created

• 2024-04-30

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Biomedical Engineering

Source

• E-project-043024-112630

Rights statement

• In Copyright

License

• Creative Commons BY Attribution 4.0 International

Last modified

• 2024-05-17