A new approach to muscle regeneration could help repair damaged shoulders million people. This technique uses advanced materials to promote muscle growth in the rotator cuff muscles. University of Connecticut Health researchers in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) August 8th issue.
A tear in the major tendon of the shoulder joint, commonly known as the rotator cuff, is a common injury in adults. Advances in surgery have made better rotator cuff repairs possible. But the failure rate of surgery can be high. Now, a team of researchers at the UConn School of Medicine, led by surgeon, engineer, and scientist Cato T. Laurencin, Ph.D., reports that a graphene/polymer matrix embedded in shoulder muscles can prevent re-lacerations.
“Most repairs focus on the tendon” and how to most effectively reconnect the tendon to the bone , Laurencin said. “But the real problem is that the muscle degenerates and builds up fat. When torn, the muscle contracts and the body grows fat in the area. When the tendons and muscles are eventually surgically reattached to the shoulder bone, the weakened muscle can’t handle it. With normal pressure, the area may re-injury.
Dr. Laurencin and graduate student Nikoo Shemshaki with UConn Connecticut Fusion Other researchers at the institute collaborated to develop a nanographene-infused polymer mesh. When they used it to repair the shoulders of rats with chronic rotator cuff tears and muscle atrophy, the muscles grew back. When they tried growing muscle on a grid of lab dishes, they found that the material seemed to promote the growth of myotubes (muscle precursors) and prevent fat formation.
“This is truly a potential breakthrough treatment for rotator cuff tears. It solves the real problem: muscle degeneration and fat accumulation,” Laurensing said.
The next step in their work The first step is to study the matrix in larger animals. The team looks forward to developing the technology in humans.
More information: Muscle Degeneration in Chronic Massive Rotator Cuff Tears in the Shoulder: Using a Graphene Matrix to Solve the Real Problem, USA Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2022). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.220810611
Citation : Rotator Cuff Regeneration: A Potential Breakthrough Therapy (12 Aug 2022) Retrieved 18 Aug 2022 from https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-08 -rotator-cuff-regeneration-potential-breakthrough.html
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