Rotator cuff (RC) injuries are characterized by tendon rupture, muscle atrophy, retraction, and fatty infiltration, which increase injury severity and jeopardize adequate tendon repair. Epigenetic drugs, such as histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACis), possess the capacity to redefine the molecular signature of cells, and they may have the potential to inhibit the transformation of the fibro-adipogenic progenitors (FAPs) within the skeletal muscle into adipocyte-like cells, concurrently enhancing the myogenic potential of the satellite cells. HDACis were added to FAPs and satellite cell cultures isolated from mice. The HDACi vorinostat was additionally administered into a RC injury animal model. Histological analysis was carried out on the isolated supra- and infraspinatus muscles to assess vorinostat anti-muscle degeneration potential.Aims
Methods
In the treatment of bone non-unions an alternative to bone autografts is the use of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMP-2, BMP-7) with powerful osteoinductive and osteogenic properties. In clinical settings, BMPs are applied using absorbable collagen sponges. Supraphysiological doses are needed and major side effects may occur as induce ectopic bone formation, chronic inflammation and excessive bone resorption. In order to increase the efficiency of the delivered for BMPs we designed cryostructured collagen scaffolds functionalized with hydroxyapatite, mimicking the structure of cortical bone (aligned porosity, anisotropic, ANI) or trabecular bone (random distributed porosity, isotropic, ISO). We hypothesize that anisotropic structure would enhance osteoconductive properties of the scaffolds increasing rhBMP-2 regenerative properties.