HIGH FREQUENCY ACOUSTIC CHARACTERIZATION OF AGE-RELATED CHANGES IN MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF TISSUE
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Manchester
Department Name: Materials
Abstract
Elastic fibres play a key role in normal tissue function, and age-related degenerative alterations in their biomechanical properties severely affect dynamic functions of the cardiovascular system, lungs and skin. This study aims to provide important information on the effects of ageing on the properties of tissue by bridging the gap between known mechanical changes at the whole tissue and molecular levels. This will be achieved through developing acoustic methods for characterising the mechanical properties of soft tissue. By using high frequency acoustic microscopy in the frequency range of 100 MHz - 1 GHz we will obtain spatially resolved maps of mechanical properties in thin histological sections with a spatial resolution in the x y plane of around 1 micron. This information will then be correlated with changes in the properties of elastic fibres extracted from tissue and combined with conventional biochemical, ultrastructural and proteomic approaches, to shed light on the causative mechanisms of elastic fibre ageing.
Organisations
Publications
Akhtar R
(2009)
Nanoindentation of histological specimens: Mapping the elastic properties of soft tissues.
in Journal of materials research
Akhtar R
(2016)
A pilot study of scanning acoustic microscopy as a tool for measuring arterial stiffness in aortic biopsies.
in Artery research
Beshtawi IM
(2014)
Biomechanical changes after repeated collagen cross-linking on human corneas assessed in vitro using scanning acoustic microscopy.
in Investigative ophthalmology & visual science
Beshtawi IM
(2016)
Biomechanical Changes of Collagen Cross-Linking on Human Keratoconic Corneas Using Scanning Acoustic Microscopy.
in Current eye research
Lagrange J
(2017)
Implication of Free Fatty Acids in Thrombin Generation and Fibrinolysis in Vascular Inflammation in Zucker Rats and Evolution with Aging.
in Frontiers in physiology
Selby A
(2014)
Influence of specimen thickness on the nanoindentation of hydrogels: measuring the mechanical properties of soft contact lenses.
in Journal of the mechanical behavior of biomedical materials
Yeung CC
(2016)
An ex vivo porcine skin model to evaluate pressure-reducing devices of different mechanical properties used for pressure ulcer prevention.
in Wound repair and regeneration : official publication of the Wound Healing Society [and] the European Tissue Repair Society
| Description | Wellcome Trust Technique Development |
| Amount | £331,376 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | WT085981AIA |
| Organisation | Wellcome Trust |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 10/2008 |
| End | 09/2011 |