Objective To explore the effect of the temperature-sensitive hydrogel and platelet-rich plasma(PRP)complex on the healing of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)partial tear in a rat model.Method PRP was processed according to an established method and then mixed with poly(ethylene glycol)monomethyl ether and poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)(mPEG-PLGA).A total of 110 right knees of Sprague-Dawley male rats (12-week old)were included and randomly divided into a healthy control group (n=10),a lesion control group(n=60)and a study group(n=40).The saline and mPEG-PLGA-PRP complex was applied at the lesion site respectively.Samples were harvested 0,2 weeks and 6 weeks post-operatively and the histological and biomechanical changes were observed and compared among the 3 groups.Results Histologically,at 6 weeks after surgery,the torn ACL of the study group had been partially healed,with decreased number of inflammatory cells and new fibrous tissues and micro-vessels appearing.The ligament maturity index revealed a significantly higher score in the study group than the lesion control group(20.6 ± 4.9 vs.4.7 ± 1.0,P＜0.01).Biomechanically,at 6 weeks after surgery,the tensile strength of the study group was significantly higher than the contro] groups(52.7 ± 11.2 vs.30.3 ± 8.8,P＜0.05).Conclusion At six weeks after surgery,the mPEG-PLGA-PRP complex can enhance the healing of ACL partial tear,ahhough the ligament was not recovered to the norma] state.

Calcifying tendinopathy is a tendon disorder with calcium deposits in the mid-substance presented with chronic activity-related pain, tenderness, local edema and various degrees of incapacitation. Most of current treatments are neither effective nor evidence-based because its underlying pathogenesis is poorly understood and treatment is usually symptomatic. Understanding the pathogenesis of calcifying tendinopathy is essential for its effective evidence-based management. One of the key histopathological features of calcifying tendinopathy is the presence of chondrocyte phenotype which surrounds the calcific deposits, suggesting that the formation of calcific deposits was cell-mediated. Although the origin of cells participating in the formation of chondrocyte phenotype and ossification is still unknown, many evidences have suggested that erroneous tendon cell differentiation is involved in the process. Recent studies have shown the presence of stem cells with self-renewal and multi-differentiation potential in human, horse, mouse and rat tendon tissues. We hypothesized that the erroneous differentiation of tendon-derived stem cells (TDSCs) to chondrocytes or osteoblasts leads to chondrometaplasia and ossification and hence weaker tendon, failed healing and pain, in calcifying tendinopathy. We present a hypothetical model on the pathogenesis and evidences to support this hypothesis. Understanding the key role of TDSCs in the pathogenesis of calcifying tendinopathy and the mechanisms contributing to their erroneous differentiation would provide new opportunities for the management of calcifying tendinopathy. The re-direction of the differentiation of resident TDSCs to tenogenic or supplementation of MSCs programmed for tenogenic differentiation may be enticing targets for the management of calcifying tendinopathy in the future.
Animals ; Cell Differentiation ; physiology ; Humans ; Mice ; Rats ; Stem Cells ; pathology ; Tendinopathy ; etiology ; pathology ; Tendons ; pathology