Grants Funded
ASPS/PSF leadership is committed to continuing to provide high levels of investigator-initiated research support to ensure that plastic surgeons have the needed research resources to be pioneers and innovators in advancing the practice of medicine.
Research Abstracts
Search The PSF database to have easy access to full-text grant abstracts from past PSF-funded research projects 2003 to present. All abstracts are the work of the Principal Investigators and were retrieved from their PSF grant applications. Several different filters may be applied to locate abstracts specific to a particular focus area or PSF funding mechanism.
Validation of a novel pressure sensor to monitor skin growth in tissue expansion
Principal Investigator
Joanna Ledwon PhD
Joanna Ledwon PhD
Year
2025
2025
Institution
Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
Funding Mechanism
PSRC/PSF Combined Pilot Research Grant
PSRC/PSF Combined Pilot Research Grant
Focus Area
Cranio/Maxillofacial/Head and Neck, General Reconstructive
Cranio/Maxillofacial/Head and Neck, General Reconstructive
Abstract
Project Summary
Tissue expansion is a surgical technique involving the insertion of the expander under the skin and its gradual inflation to promote new tissue growth for reconstructive purposes. This method is used to address skin defects from burns, trauma, birth defects, and cancer removal. However, a significant challenge in tissue expansion is the lack of objective measures to guide the process, often forcing surgeons to rely on subjective judgment, which can lead to complications such as tissue damage due to aggressive expansion. To address these limitations, we have developed a wireless pressure sensor to monitor the pressure exerted by the expander on the
skin during tissue expansion. The proposed project aims to validate the performance and safety of this newly developed device on a porcine tissue expansion model. We will evaluate the sensor's precision by executing the same tissue expansion protocol on the anterior and posterior sides. We will correlate the pressure readings with the changes in skin growth and skin biomechanical properties based on 3D images and isogeometric analysis, suction measurements, biaxial biomechanical testing, and histological staining. In addition, we will determine the pressure sensor safety and biocompatibility by investigating its effect on skin growth, capsule formation, morphological changes, and immune response activity using molecular analyses. Successful completion of the project will enable to standardize tissue expansion protocols by providing objective data on pressure, allowing for tailored treatment
strategies and reducing the risk of complications. The sensor's wireless functionality offers continuous monitoring, enhancing decision-making during the expansion process. By shifting from subjective assessments to precise measurements, this innovation could significantly improve the safety and effectiveness of tissue expansion, ultimately leading to better patient outcomes in reconstructive surgeries.
Impact Statement
By developing a novel wireless pressure sensor for tissue expansion (TE), we aim to enhance surgical precision and safety, directly addressing the unique needs of pediatric and adult patients undergoing reconstructive procedures. Despite wide use of TE in clinical settings, this procedure is still associated with a high risk of complications, often due to a lack of objective measures to control the magnitude of mechanical forces applied by the expander. Our innovative approach not only fosters advancements in biomechanical engineering but also has the potential to empower surgeons with objective data to optimize patients' care. The proposed work
expresses our commitment to improving clinical outcomes for TE patients, ensuring a brighter future for those facing complex medical challenges.
Project Summary
Tissue expansion is a surgical technique involving the insertion of the expander under the skin and its gradual inflation to promote new tissue growth for reconstructive purposes. This method is used to address skin defects from burns, trauma, birth defects, and cancer removal. However, a significant challenge in tissue expansion is the lack of objective measures to guide the process, often forcing surgeons to rely on subjective judgment, which can lead to complications such as tissue damage due to aggressive expansion. To address these limitations, we have developed a wireless pressure sensor to monitor the pressure exerted by the expander on the
skin during tissue expansion. The proposed project aims to validate the performance and safety of this newly developed device on a porcine tissue expansion model. We will evaluate the sensor's precision by executing the same tissue expansion protocol on the anterior and posterior sides. We will correlate the pressure readings with the changes in skin growth and skin biomechanical properties based on 3D images and isogeometric analysis, suction measurements, biaxial biomechanical testing, and histological staining. In addition, we will determine the pressure sensor safety and biocompatibility by investigating its effect on skin growth, capsule formation, morphological changes, and immune response activity using molecular analyses. Successful completion of the project will enable to standardize tissue expansion protocols by providing objective data on pressure, allowing for tailored treatment
strategies and reducing the risk of complications. The sensor's wireless functionality offers continuous monitoring, enhancing decision-making during the expansion process. By shifting from subjective assessments to precise measurements, this innovation could significantly improve the safety and effectiveness of tissue expansion, ultimately leading to better patient outcomes in reconstructive surgeries.
Impact Statement
By developing a novel wireless pressure sensor for tissue expansion (TE), we aim to enhance surgical precision and safety, directly addressing the unique needs of pediatric and adult patients undergoing reconstructive procedures. Despite wide use of TE in clinical settings, this procedure is still associated with a high risk of complications, often due to a lack of objective measures to control the magnitude of mechanical forces applied by the expander. Our innovative approach not only fosters advancements in biomechanical engineering but also has the potential to empower surgeons with objective data to optimize patients' care. The proposed work
expresses our commitment to improving clinical outcomes for TE patients, ensuring a brighter future for those facing complex medical challenges.
Biography
Dr. Joanna K. Ledwon, PhD, is a Research Assistant Professor of Surgery at Northwestern University and Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital.
Dr. Ledwon earned a Bachelor’s degree in Biotechnology from the University of Szczecin and a Master's degree in Biotechnology from the University of Warsaw. She then earned a Doctorate of Medical Sciences degree in Medical Biology from the Centre of Postgraduate Medical Education in Poland. Her doctoral research was focused on the identification of genetic risk markers of breast, prostate and colon cancer using genome-wide association studies.
Over the past eight years in the Gosain Laboratory, Dr. Ledwon has supported the research team with her expertise in biomedical research and molecular biology on multiple projects. She has studied the genetic background and molecular mechanisms of
craniosynostosis and used patient-derived MSC cell culture and zebrafish animal models. She has also provided technical skill and biological expertise to study the molecular response of skin during tissue expansion using a porcine model. Dr. Ledwon has also investigated the effect of ADM on mechanically induced skin growth and the dermal changes during tissue expansion in a porcine model.
As a young faculty member with a strong academic interest in the molecular mechanisms of tissue growth and regeneration, Dr. Ledwon is passionate about advancing the field of plastic surgery through basic science and translational research.
Dr. Joanna K. Ledwon, PhD, is a Research Assistant Professor of Surgery at Northwestern University and Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital.
Dr. Ledwon earned a Bachelor’s degree in Biotechnology from the University of Szczecin and a Master's degree in Biotechnology from the University of Warsaw. She then earned a Doctorate of Medical Sciences degree in Medical Biology from the Centre of Postgraduate Medical Education in Poland. Her doctoral research was focused on the identification of genetic risk markers of breast, prostate and colon cancer using genome-wide association studies.
Over the past eight years in the Gosain Laboratory, Dr. Ledwon has supported the research team with her expertise in biomedical research and molecular biology on multiple projects. She has studied the genetic background and molecular mechanisms of
craniosynostosis and used patient-derived MSC cell culture and zebrafish animal models. She has also provided technical skill and biological expertise to study the molecular response of skin during tissue expansion using a porcine model. Dr. Ledwon has also investigated the effect of ADM on mechanically induced skin growth and the dermal changes during tissue expansion in a porcine model.
As a young faculty member with a strong academic interest in the molecular mechanisms of tissue growth and regeneration, Dr. Ledwon is passionate about advancing the field of plastic surgery through basic science and translational research.