Abstract
Advances in biomedical engineering are often framed as only technical solutions, yet the problems that they address are deeply shaped by social and cultural values. Although both my Capstone Design project and STS research center on post-lumpectomy breast reconstruction, they approach the issue from different angles. My Capstone Design project focuses on developing an injectable hydrogel scaffold and delivery system to promote adipose breast tissue regeneration in void cavities left behind by lumpectomy. Current options for filling void cavities include autologous fat grafting and silicone implants, but they present risks and limitations that further emphasize the need for a novel biomaterial solution. In contrast, my STS research investigates how sociocultural expectations of the female body influence both patient preferences and advice from clinicians surrounding post-lumpectomy breast reconstruction. Rather than framing breast reconstruction solely as a medical solution to fill void cavities, my STS research analyzes it as a response to the constant scrutiny that is placed on women’s bodies. My sociotechnical synthesis aims to demonstrate that post-lumpectomy breast reconstruction cannot be separated from the social and cultural contexts that define the problems they aim to solve.
My Capstone Design project contributes to post-lumpectomy outcomes through the development of an injectable, fiber-enforced microparticle (FEMP) hydrogel scaffold that fills irregularly-shaped void cavities and facilitates the regeneration of adipose breast tissue. Mixing acrylated hyaluronic acid (AcHA) microgels, methacrylated hyaluronic acid (MeHA) nanofibers, and sacrificial gelatin from bovine skin (Gel B) with poly(ethylene glycol)-thiol (PEG-SH) initiates a crosslinking mechanism via physical assembly and a Michael addition reaction, eliminating the need for harmful UV light exposure. Injecting this hydrogel precursor solution into the breast before gelation allows for the material to fully conform to the geometry of the void cavity over time. AcHA microgels comprise the bulk of the hydrogel scaffold and exhibit shear-thinning behavior, enabling the system's injectability. MeHA nanofibers mimic the shape of the extracellular matrix to provide structural stability for the hydrogel scaffold throughout the regeneration process. Sacrificial Gel B dissolves at normal body temperature, leaving behind an interconnected porous architecture that allows for cellular infiltration.
The results of my Capstone Design project demonstrate that the FEMP hydrogel scaffold is both mechanically robust and cytocompatible, with a tunable porosity that directly influences cellular response. Hydrogel scaffolds crosslinked via physical assembly and Michael addition showed improved structural stability and sustained cell viability over time compared to UV-crosslinked controls. Additionally, the system remained injectable prior to gelation and crosslinked within a clinically relevant timeframe. These findings suggest that the developed hydrogel scaffolds provide a promising alternative to existing breast reconstruction techniques by offering an adaptable, biologically supportive, and minimally invasive solution.
My STS research asks: how do social expectations of the female body inform both patient preferences and advice from clinicians surrounding post-lumpectomy breast reconstruction? It is significant because it challenges the assumption that breast reconstruction is performed only out of medical necessity, instead framing it as a response to socioculturally embedded ideals of femininity, normalcy, and wholeness. Using the Social Construction of Technology (SCOT) framework, my STS research examines how different social and cultural groups assign meaning to breast reconstruction technologies. It employs qualitative document analysis for its methodological approach, drawing from first-person patient narratives, interview-based studies, and medical literature to analyze how breast reconstruction is framed across both personal and clinical contexts.
The findings of my STS research reveal that breast reconstruction is a socially negotiated outcome rather than an inevitable medical response. Patient narratives demonstrate that women often internalize societal expectations linking breast appearance to identity and self-worth, shaping their desire for breast reconstruction. At the same time, medical literature often frames breast reconstruction as a pathway to “complete” recovery, reinforcing social expectations through clinical authority. Applying the SCOT framework, these sources illustrate how interpretive flexibility surrounding breast reconstruction becomes stabilized, with dominant perspectives positioning it as the normative solution to post-lumpectomy changes. Ultimately, my STS research concludes that breast reconstruction technologies are co-produced by sociocultural values and medical practice, highlighting the need to consider patient experiences and definitions of well-being when designing and implementing biomedical solutions.
