Theses and Dissertations

Issuing Body

Mississippi State University

Advisor

Simpson, LaShan C.

Committee Member

Elder, Steven H.

Committee Member

Priddy, Lauren B.

Committee Member

Olivier, Alicia K.

Committee Member

Simpson, LaShan C.

Date of Degree

12-9-2022

Document Type

Graduate Thesis - Open Access

Major

Biomedical Engineering

Degree Name

Master of Science (M.S.)

College

James Worth Bagley College of Engineering

Department

Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering

Abstract

Calcification is linked to a high prevalence of cardiovascular events and mortality due to arterial stiffness. Stiffening of the arteries in the case of medial calcification is due to hydroxyapatite mineral deposited in the artery thus leading to the loss of elastin. A possibility of removing this rogue mineral along the vessel walls could be the use of osteoclasts. Osteoclasts, a type of osteocyte, have the unique ability to absorb bone in the bone turnover process. It is proposed that in the future, osteoclasts be delivered to the site of mineralization through oxidized alginate-fibrin microbeads. Alginate hydrogels have proven great in drug delivery and could be a revolutionary cell delivery device to provide care for multitudes of people suffering from adjacent cardiovascular health problems such as arterial stiffness.

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