Abstract

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are one of the leading causes of death in the United States. However, the treatment of myocardial infarction (MI) driven by cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) is limited to heart transplantation. Tissue engineering is an alternative solution as the availability of heart transplantation largely depends on the availability of donor organs. While synthetic materials may trigger anti-inflammatory responses after implantation, natural biomaterials such as silk have a high potential as a material for building scaffolds due to its high biocompatibility and biodegradability. Spider silk is a material composed of fibroin proteins. When the proteins are spun, they are called recombinant spider silk, which can be used itself or combined with other biomaterials for surface modification. Especially in relation to cardiovascular tissue engineering, spider silk’s biocompatibility has proven to resemble the native cardiac tissue. Spider silk’s potential for cardiovascular tissue engineering application is investigated through reliable literature reviews and comparisons with other biomaterials including collagen, PCL, PLA, silkworm silk, alginate, chitosan. The growth of the field in research for each biomaterial in relation to cardiovascular tissue engineering was statistically evaluated. The statistical results indicated that there is an urgent need for more research of spider silk and cardiovascular tissue engineering. The mechanical properties of the biomaterials including ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and elastic modulus (EM) were analyzed corresponding to those of native cardiac tissue. The results suggested spider silk’s promising ability to be used as a biomaterial for scaffolds. The applicability of spider silk to electrospinning and combination with poly (3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) were discussed.

Abstract

This study rigorously examines the effects of career-oriented programs on public high school students’ academic motivation, a crucial factor in educational achievement and persistence. Employing a mixed-methods approach with a sample of 61 students from diverse backgrounds, this research assesses the roles of elective courses geared toward career pathways and their intersections with supportive school environments and extracurricular involvement. Findings reveal that when students engage in elective programs aligned with their career aspirations, they display significantly higher motivation, increased engagement, and a deeper investment in learning processes. Further, these programs cultivate autonomy, foster a sense of community, and allow students to draw relevant connections between academic activities and real-world applications. By emphasizing the value of interest-based, student-centered learning experiences, this study contributes to the discourse on career and technical education and advocates for the inclusion of career-oriented academies as a means to bolster motivation and positively influence educational outcomes in public high schools.