The Controlled Release of Platelet-Rich Plasma-Loaded Alginate Repairs Muscle Damage With Less Fibrosis

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Regenerative Medicine
• Orthopaedics

Background:

• Muscle injuries impair repair and strength, with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) use in orthopaedics being controversial.
• Current PRP applications for muscle injuries lack consistent efficacy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if encapsulating PRP within alginate hydrogels enhances skeletal muscle repair and reduces fibrosis.
• To achieve localized and sustained release of growth factors at the injury site.

Main Methods:

• Controlled laboratory study using mice with induced muscle lacerations.
• Formulation of alginate hydrogels with leukocyte-rich PRP (L-PRP) and pure PRP (P-PRP).
• In vitro assessment of TGF-β1 release and in vivo evaluation of fibrosis, muscle regeneration, and functional recovery.

Main Results:

• Sustained release of TGF-β1 from alginate hydrogels for approximately one week.
• Alginate-encapsulated PRP (L-PRPA and P-PRPA) reduced fibrosis by 50% compared to controls.
• Significant improvements in regenerating myofibers, myogenic markers, and rotarod performance were observed in the L-PRPA group.

Conclusions:

• Direct PRP injections did not reduce muscle injury fibrosis.
• Alginate hydrogel encapsulation of PRP significantly enhanced tissue regeneration and reduced fibrosis.
• Encapsulated PRP is a promising therapeutic strategy for muscle lacerations, warranting further clinical investigation.