A Biomechanical Investigation of Collagen, Platelet-Rich Plasma, and Mesenchymal Stromal Cells on the Achilles Tendon in a Rat Model

Abstract

This study aims to biomechanically compare four different treatment methods for repair enhancement in Achilles tendon rupture in rats: collagen, collagen and platelet-rich plasma (PRP), collagen and mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC), and a combination of collagen, platelet-rich plasma and mesenchymal stromal cells (CPM) at one and two week healing periods. This study included ninety Lewis rats weighing approximately 200–300 g. Ten rats were used as donors for MSC and PRP. For the remaining eighty rats, the right leg was completely transected 6 mm proximal to the calcaneus bone, suture repaired, wrapped in CollaTape (CoTa), and then closed. An injection of PRP, MSC, or PRP and MSC was given at the wound site to the applicable groups. After one or two weeks recovery time, the rats were sacrificed and both Achilles tendons were removed. The left tendons were used as virgin tissue controls. It was found that the maximum stress at failure, the total strain energy, the average modulus of elasticity, and the elastic strain energy all increase significantly from one week to two week recovery time. However, there was no statistical difference between treatment groups in any of the mechanical properties.