“Revolutionary Bactogel Provides New Solutions for Muscle Repair”
muscle repair breakthrough bactogel
Scientists at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) are pioneering the use of bacterial mechanisms to facilitate tissue regeneration.
The researchers have engineered a novel biopolymer, termed PAMA, derived from bacteria, which has demonstrated efficacy in a hydrogel for regenerating muscle tissue in rats. This innovation holds promise for addressing musculoskeletal injuries across diverse demographic groups.
Under the leadership of Associate Professor Alireza Dolatshahi-Pirouz, the DTU research team has made noteworthy progress in the domains of tissue engineering and cell therapy by capitalizing on the intrinsic healing capabilities of bacteria.
The team employed the natural bioproduction capacities of bacteria to synthesize a new biopolymer endowed with tissue-regenerative properties. This polymer was subsequently utilized to fabricate a durable, resilient, and elastic hydrogel aimed at muscle tissue regeneration.
The findings, detailed in the journal Bioactive Materials, introduce Pantoan Methacrylate (PAMA), a biopolymer with muscle regeneration potential derived from bacterial sources.
Promising Developments in Muscle Injury Treatment
The research team has successfully applied this innovative hydrogel—referred to as “bactogel”—to treat muscle injuries in rats, yielding encouraging outcomes.
The in vivo experiments revealed a marked increase in muscle tissue formation coupled with a reduction in fibrous tissue. The PAMA bactogel exhibited near-total mechanical recovery, coupled with favorable biocompatibility and healing efficacy, suggesting a novel avenue in musculoskeletal tissue repair.
“This amalgamation of characteristics is scarcely observed in this field, as the majority of bioactive hydrogels possess inadequate mechanical properties unsuitable for the mechanically demanding environment of musculoskeletal tissues, such as muscles,” notes Dolatshahi-Pirouz.
He further adds, “I am optimistic that our recent discoveries could catalyze the development of enhanced therapies for musculoskeletal injuries in athletes, the elderly, and individuals, such as soldiers, who sustain traumatic muscle injuries.”
The team has demonstrated successful tissue regeneration in rats without the use of cells and anticipates even greater healing outcomes by integrating their bactogels with muscle progenitor or stem cells.
Dolatshahi-Pirouz envisions a future where bacteria-derived polymers—coined “bactomers”—revolutionize regenerative medicine. “I foresee a scenario where bacteria in regenerative bacto-baths secrete bactomers on demand, facilitating the healing of injured tissues in patients,” he remarks.
Reference
“Enhancing volumetric muscle loss (VML) recovery in a rat model using super durable hydrogels derived from bacteria” by Seyyed Vahid Niknezhad, Mehdi Mehrali, Farinaz Riyahi Khorasgani, Reza Heidari, Firoz Babu Kadumudi, Nasim Golafshan, Miguel Castilho, Cristian Pablo Pennisi, Masoud Hasany, Mohammadjavad Jahanshahi, Mohammad Mehrali, Younes Ghasemi, Negar Azarpira, Thomas L. Andresen, and Alireza Dolatshahi-Pirouz, published on 1 June 2024, Bioactive Materials.
Funding: Danmarks Frie Forskningsfond, Novo Nordisk Foundation, VIDI research programme, Horizon 2020 Framework Programme, Horizon 2020, Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant.
muscle repair breakthrough bactogel
