@article {743891, title = {Biologic-free mechanically induced muscle regeneration}, journal = {Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A}, volume = {113}, number = {6}, year = {2016}, month = {2016 Feb 09}, pages = {1534-9}, abstract = {Severe skeletal muscle injuries are common and can lead to extensive fibrosis, scarring, and loss of function. Clinically, no therapeutic intervention exists that allows for a full functional restoration. As a result, both drug and cellular therapies are being widely investigated for treatment of muscle injury. Because muscle is known to respond to mechanical loading, we investigated instead whether a material system capable of massage-like compressions could promote regeneration. Magnetic actuation of biphasic ferrogel scaffolds implanted at the site of muscle injury resulted in uniform cyclic compressions that led to reduced fibrous capsule formation around the implant, as well as reduced fibrosis and inflammation in the injured muscle. In contrast, no significant effect of ferrogel actuation on muscle vascularization or perfusion was found. Strikingly, ferrogel-driven mechanical compressions led to enhanced muscle regeneration and a \~{}threefold increase in maximum contractile force of the treated muscle at 2 wk compared with no-treatment controls. Although this study focuses on the repair of severely injured skeletal muscle, magnetically stimulated bioagent-free ferrogels may find broad utility in the field of regenerative medicine.}, keywords = {Animals, Biological Products, Biomechanical Phenomena, Electric Stimulation, Female, Fibrosis, Gels, Hindlimb, Implants, Experimental, Inflammation, Macrophages, Magnetic Phenomena, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Muscle Contraction, Muscle Fibers, Skeletal, Muscle, Skeletal, Oxygen, Perfusion, Regeneration}, issn = {1091-6490}, doi = {10.1073/pnas.1517517113}, author = {Cezar, Christine A and Ellen T Roche and Vandenburgh, Herman H and Duda, Georg N and Conor J Walsh and Mooney, David J} }