Regeneration of Volumetric Muscle Loss Using MSCs Encapsulated in PRP-Derived Fibrin Microbeads

Volumetric muscle loss (VML) is one of the major types of soft tissue injury frequently encountered worldwide. In case of VML, the endogenous regenerative capacity of the skeletal muscle tissue is usually not sufficient for complete healing of the damaged area resulting in permanent functional musculoskeletal impairment. Therefore, the development of new tissue engineering approaches that will enable functional skeletal muscle regeneration by overcoming the limitations of current clinical treatments for VML injuries has become a critical goal. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is an inexpensive and relatively effective blood product with a high concentration of platelets containing various growth factors and cytokines involved in wound healing and tissue regeneration. Due to its autologous nature, PRP has been a safe and widely used treatment option for various wound types for many years. Recently, PRP-based biomaterials have emerged as a promising approach to promote muscle tissue regeneration upon injury. This chapter describes the use of PRP-derived fibrin microbeads as a versatile encapsulation matrix for the localized delivery of mesenchymal stem cells and growth factors to treat VML using tissue engineering strategies.

Encapsulation of MSCs in PRP-Derived Fibrin Microbeads

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a highly concentrated platelet-containing blood plasma that incorporates a significant amount of growth factors and cytokines needed to accelerate the tissue repair process. PRP has been used effectively for many years in the treatment of various wounds by direct injection into the target tissue or impregnation with scaffold or graft materials. Since autologous PRP can be obtained by simple centrifugation, it is an attractive and inexpensive product for use in repairing damaged soft tissues. Cell-based regenerative approaches, which draw attention in the treatment of tissue and organ injuries, are based on the principle of delivering stem cells to damaged sites by various means, including encapsulation. Current biopolymers used in cell encapsulation have some advantages with some limitations. By adjusting its physicochemical properties, PRP-derived fibrin can become an efficient matrix material for encapsulating stem cells. This chapter covers the fabrication protocol of PRP-derived fibrin microbeads and their use to encapsulate stem cells as a general bioengineering platform for prospective regenerative medical applications.