Investigating cellular dysfunction in injury-induced neurological and musculoskeletal disorders
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Authors
Chen, Rui
Issue Date
2025-05
Type
Electronic thesis
Thesis
Thesis
Language
en_US
Keywords
Biomedical engineering
Alternative Title
Abstract
The incidence and severity of musculoskeletal and neurological disorders – which has been shown to be interconnected through an abundance of clinical studies – increases with age and injury. With this, regenerative medicine approaches must first understand the mechanisms behind which the pathological states occur. This brings a specific focus on spinal cord injury (SCI), where its aftermath is associated with increased risks of developing Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and osteoporosis. The interplay between the three becomes clearer when viewed in the context of the commonalities found in cellular dysfunction, specifically through mass cell deaths, chronic inflammation, neural cell over-reactivity, and altered regeneration capabilities. However, the specific interactions involving SCI, neurological dysfunction, and bone health decline remains unclear. Thus, the studies presented herein will focus on clarifying the dysregulated cellular response in pathology and regenerative approach through (1) investigating the effects of an elevated pressure condition after impact in the context of SCI and increased intraspinal pressure (ISP), (2) demonstrate the direct regulating effect of sympathetic dysfunction in altered osteogenic capabilities, and (3) assess the applicability of shape memory polymer scaffolds in bone regeneration.
Description
May2025
School of Engineering
School of Engineering
Full Citation
Publisher
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY