Effect of peg-ylated fibrin gel injections on functional recovery of skeletal muscle following ischemia/reperfusion injury

Ischemia/Reperfusion (I/R) injury can cause irreversible damage to muscle tissue. Injection of a biomaterial, such as PEG-ylated fibrin gel, with the capability to release growth factors in a time dependent manner has the potential to increase recovery of muscle tissue following an I/R injury. In this study, we examined the effects of PEGylated fibrin gel on muscle tissue following I/R injury. Following tourniquet application, there was no significant difference in force recovery between injection and non-injection groups for the In Vivo force assessment (p=0.19), the In Situ force assessment (p=0.12), and the Specific tetanic tension of the muscle tissue (p=0.51). These results indicate that PEG-ylated fibrin gel has no detrimental effect on muscle tissue when injected, making it an appropriate material for injection into muscle tissue for the release of growth factors.