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Developing a Biocompatible Hydrogel Model to Evaluate Hyaluronidase As a Therapeutic for Myxomatous Valve Degeneration

CSEF · 2026 Medicine & Physiology (Senior Division)

Parsa Jokar

Overview

Myxomatous Degeneration of the Mitral Valve (MDMV) affects 16 million people worldwide, characterized by weak and swollen leaflet tissue caused by over accumulated glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) in the extracellular matrix. This project followed a two-prong approach. The first goal was to create an accurate model of MDMV using physiological stressors on hydrogels loaded with GAGs. A base hydrogel composed of sodium alginate, hyaluronic acid and chondroitin sulfate was crosslinked with calcium chloride, and underwent stress using mechanical compression and a peristaltic flow. Hydrogel volume decreased across all 3 trials, with a 37% - 53% error accurately modeling MDMV myocardial dysfunction. An Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) revealed a p < 0.001 (p = 0.00003, F-statistic = 42.85397), revealing the high statistical significance of these data. The second goal was to explore HAse as a therapeutic enzyme to degrade GAGs and prevent pathophysiology. After HAse loaded hydrogels were incubated at different time periods, they were dissolved with sodium citrate and remaining GAGs were stained with toluidine blue (TB). Spectrophotometric absorbance readings appropriately measured at 630 nm did not decrease over time, and a calibration curve could not be used. The spectrophotometer revealed no issue, however, the buffer was manufactured at pH 2.74 not pH 5.35, therefore denaturing the reconstituted HAse. Although HAse could not be evaluated for therapeutics, my hydrogel model has impactful applications in biomedical research as it provides a new approach to tissue engineering, drug delivery systems, and low-cost visual models of diseases.

Competition history

  • CSEF 2026 Medicine & Physiology (Senior Division) · Entry S-15-32

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