Regeneration of Volumetric Muscle Loss Using MSCs Encapsulated in PRP-Derived Fibrin Microbeads

Volumetric muscle loss (VML) is one of the major types of soft tissue injury frequently encountered worldwide. In case of VML, the endogenous regenerative capacity of the skeletal muscle tissue is usually not sufficient for complete healing of the damaged area resulting in permanent functional musculoskeletal impairment. Therefore, the development of new tissue engineering approaches that will enable functional skeletal muscle regeneration by overcoming the limitations of current clinical treatments for VML injuries has become a critical goal. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is an inexpensive and relatively effective blood product with a high concentration of platelets containing various growth factors and cytokines involved in wound healing and tissue regeneration. Due to its autologous nature, PRP has been a safe and widely used treatment option for various wound types for many years. Recently, PRP-based biomaterials have emerged as a promising approach to promote muscle tissue regeneration upon injury. This chapter describes the use of PRP-derived fibrin microbeads as a versatile encapsulation matrix for the localized delivery of mesenchymal stem cells and growth factors to treat VML using tissue engineering strategies.