(10a) Delivery of Biologics for Muscle Healing after Rotator Cuff Injury

After rotator cuff tendon tear, marked degeneration of the attached muscle is apparent clinically, with both fibrous and fatty infiltration of the tissue. Our laboratory is working on delivery strategies for biologics, including proteins and cells, that might slow or reverse this degeneration. In particular, our laboratory has focused on “jump-starting” host regenerative processes through use of glycosaminoglycan (GAG)-based biomaterials for release of cytokines to promote the recruitment of pro-healing cell populations, such as pro-resolving macrophages, and mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs), into the muscle. This presentation will summarize our work in this area, including the use of both bone marrow mobilizing agents and localized delivery strategies to alter the cellular milieu in the associated muscle after rotator cuff tendon injury.