Acellular collagen-glycosaminoglycan matrix promotes functional recovery in a rat model of volumetric muscle loss

Plain language summaryVolumetric muscle loss (VML) is a large injury to skeletal muscle. VML heals with scarring, little muscle regeneration, and incomplete strength recovery. The current treatment for VML involves transferring muscle from one part of the body to the injury site. However, this is limited by weakness of the donor site and incomplete recovery of muscle function. Therefore, other treatments have been developed to aid in muscle healing. One such treatment involves using three dimensional templates, known as scaffolds, to aid in muscle regeneration. Our goal is to determine whether a collagen-glycosaminoglycan scaffold (CGS), which is already used for other medical purposes, can improve healing of VML injuries in rats. CGS placement in rat muscle injuries resulted in decreased scarring, increased muscle regeneration, and increased strength recovery compared with the non-CGS group. Tweetable abstractAcellular collagen-glycosaminoglycan scaffolds promote functional recovery, reduced fibrosis and increased muscle regeneration in a rat model of volumetric muscle loss. Aim: Volumetric muscle loss (VML) is a composite loss of skeletal muscle, which heals with fibrosis, minimal muscle regeneration, and incomplete functional recovery. This study investigated whether collagen-glycosaminoglycan scaffolds (CGS) improve functional recovery following VML. Methods: 15 Sprague-Dawley rats underwent either sham injury or bilateral tibialis anterior (TA) VML injury, with or without CGS implantation. Results: In rats with VML injuries treated with CGS, the TA exhibited greater in vivo tetanic forces and in situ twitch and tetanic dorsiflexion forces compared with those in the non-CGS group at 4- and 6-weeks following injury, respectively. Histologically, the VML with CGS group demonstrated reduced fibrosis and increased muscle regeneration. Conclusion: Taken together, CGS implantation has potential augment muscle recovery following VML.