The effect of tenocyte/hyaluronic acid therapy on the early recovery of healing Achilles tendon in rats

• Published in: Journal of materials science. Materials in medicine Vol. 25; no. 1; pp. 217 - 227
• Main Authors: Liang, Jen-I, Lin, Ping-Chia, Chen, Meng-Yi, Hsieh, Tsung-Hsun, Chen, Jia-Jin Jason, Yeh, Ming-Long
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Boston Springer US 01.01.2014; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Achilles Tendon - cytology; Achilles Tendon - injuries; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Biomaterials; Biomechanical Phenomena; Biomedical engineering; Biomedical Engineering and Bioengineering; Biomedical materials; Cell Transplantation; Ceramics; Chemistry and Materials Science; Clinical outcomes; Composites; Disease management; Disease Models, Animal; Gait; Glass; Hyaluronic Acid - administration & dosage; Injuries; Male; Materials Science; Materials Testing; Medical sciences; Natural Materials; Polymer Sciences; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Regenerative Medicine/Tissue Engineering; Rodents; Rupture - pathology; Rupture - physiopathology; Rupture - therapy; Surfaces and Interfaces; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Technology. Biomaterials. Equipments; Tendon Injuries - pathology; Tendon Injuries - physiopathology; Tendon Injuries - therapy; Tendons; Thin Films; Wound Healing - drug effects; Healing Tendon; Inflammatory Phase; Hyaluronic Acid; Achilles Tendon; Gait Analysis; Rat; Tendo calcaneus; Rodentia; Recovery; Polyelectrolyte; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Treatment; Healing agent; Animal; Glycosaminoglycan; Oside polymer; Antirheumatic agent; Hyaluronic acid; Cicatrization; Biomedical engineering
• ISSN: 0957-4530; 1573-4838
• DOI: 10.1007/s10856-013-5036-9

The aim of this study was to explore the potential for a better recovery outcome for the Achilles tendon at an early healing stage when a mixed biomaterial-tenocyte injection is used. The experimental animals underwent single limb Achilles tendon transection followed by suturing repair. A solution of either hyaluronic acid with or without tenocytes or normal saline was randomly chosen to be injected around the injury site after surgery. To obtain the comprehensive recovery condition of the rats on different management protocols, the animals were evaluated histologically, mechanically, and functionally. A significant difference in the recovery condition was found in the injured tendon injected with the hyaluronic acid solution with tenocytes compared with the other groups. Tendon stiffness and the locomotion abilities of the rats with healing Achilles tendons were improved in the hyaluronic acid with tenocyte transplantation group. The acceleration of the inflammatory phase in rats with the hyaluronic acid with tenocyte injections might be the major reason for the better functional outcomes.