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Injectable Fibrocartilage-Forming Cores Enhance Bone-Tendon Healing in a Rat Rotator Cuff Model
Yuhao Yuan1,2, Yiyang Mao1,2, Buhua Sun1,2
1Department of Orthopedics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
The American Journal of Sports Medicine
|January 1, 2025
Summary
New injectable cores enhanced rotator cuff healing by promoting bone-tendon regeneration. This breakthrough offers a promising complementary treatment for rotator cuff tears, improving surgical repair outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Orthopedic Surgery
- Regenerative Medicine
Background:
- Rotator cuff (RC) tear surgical repair often results in poor bone-tendon (BT) insertion healing due to limited regeneration.
- There is a critical need for novel interventions to improve BT healing at the RC repair site.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop injectable fibrocartilage-forming cores by tethering fibroblast growth factor 18 (FGF18) on acellular fibrocartilage matrix microparticles (AFM-MPs).
- To evaluate the efficacy of these cores in enhancing BT healing.
Main Methods:
- AFM-MPs were fabricated from decellularized porcine RC fibrocartilage and loaded with recombinant FGF18 (CBD-FGF18@AFM-MPs).
- The in vitro effects on bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were assessed.
- The in vivo efficacy was evaluated in a rat RC tear model with 4 treatment groups.
- Specimens were analyzed using micro-CT, histology, and mechanical testing at 4 and 8 weeks.
Main Results:
- In vitro studies showed CBD-FGF18@AFM-MPs promoted cell viability and chondrogenesis.
- In vivo, the CBD-FGF18@AFM-MPs group exhibited significantly enhanced new bone formation and remodeling.
- Histology revealed improved BT insertion continuity and fibrocartilage regeneration.
- Mechanical testing demonstrated superior failure load and stiffness in the CBD-FGF18@AFM-MPs group at 8 weeks.
Conclusions:
- Injectable fibrocartilage-forming cores represent a novel biological intervention for promoting RC healing.
- These cores show potential as a complementary treatment for surgical repair of RC tears.
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