Abstract
Globally, approximately 494 million people suffered from musculoskeletal (MSK) disorders in 2020; these disorders include rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, arthritis, low back pain, and systemic lupus erythematosus. If acute musculoskeletal injuries go untreated for prolonged periods, they can lead to MSK disorders, including chronic pain, joint instability, and, in the most severe cases, volumetric muscle loss (VML). Current treatments for VML are quite limited; they include physical therapy and surgical procedures for severe cases. This capstone research aims to integrate tissue engineering and regenerative medicine approaches to develop treatments. Recent skeletal muscle biomaterials work has focused on the engineering and printing of fiber-based granular hydrogels (FGH), a novel class of materials designed to mimic the fibrous architecture of the extracellular matrix. However, these systems are limited in their dynamics and ability to print tunable scaffold architecture. To develop a tunable fiber-based material for 3D printing complex tissue designs, this capstone researches and develops a tunable fiber-based bioink for 3D printing complex tissue designs. With the limited treatments for VML and current disparities within musculoskeletal care, this is limiting for patients in lower socioeconomic ranges to achieve adequate treatment care in healthcare spaces. Thus, this research will explore the socioeconomic and racial disparities in MSK care within the United States. It is essential to understand the root causes exacerbating this disparity and find ways to improve upon it.
Intersectional analysis employs a multidimensional framework that can be applied across interdisciplinary fields. This analysis utilizes an axis of identities to illustrate how various individuals may be at an advantage or disadvantage within a system due to their complex and layered identities. These Identities include but are not limited to race, socioeconomic status, gender, and disability. The Intersectionality framework will be used to analyze the various root causes contributing to this disparity in healthcare, specifically in musculoskeletal treatments, and how they impact certain individuals more than others based on their identities.
Methods used to conduct this research are based on a literature review. This research aims to find the root causes of the current musculoskeletal treatments. After finding specific issues to target to find solutions, in hopes of reducing this disparity. Peer-reviewed academic journals, such as PubMed Central, Nature, ScienceDirect, and JSTOR were utilized to find resources, including surveys, qualitative and quantitative analyses, meta-ethnography, and meta-analysis for the research. Additional filters were applied to restrict publication before 2000 and select articles published in English, to ensure relevance and provide accurate results. Study types were prioritized to original research articles rather than systematic reviews, while excluding conference abstracts and editorials. These constraints were applied to narrow the results to answer the research question appropriately.
This STS research not only serves as an example for incorporating an intersectionality framework in multidimensional topics such as science and technology, but it also helps future engineers, researchers, and students better understand the disparities in healthcare and ways to combat them. Providing ways to address current disparities at the micro and macro levels will help reduce disparities in musculoskeletal care and treatment. The implications of the capstone project aim to advance current research in this field. The broader goal is to develop scaffolds using bioink as a potential treatment for VML.
