NTEC Research R. Koepsel-3
Mitigation of Scar Tissue Formation with PEGylated Matrix Metalloproteinase-1
Richard Koepsel, PhD
McGowan Institute for Regenerative MedicineUniversity of Pittsburgh
Recovery of full activity after muscle injury is vitally important when considering preparedness of a warfighter. Incomplete or delayed healing can compromise a soldier’s readiness and consequently any method that improves healing will reduce the downtime for an injured warfighter. When this is added to the number of injuries, such as lacerations, contusions, and muscle strains that are so common to war fighters it is evident that muscle healing is a major consideration of troop readiness.
Mitigation of Scar Tissue Formation with PEGylated Matrix Metalloproteinase-1
The overall goal of this work is to determine the effectiveness of PEG-MMP-1 therapy in degrading scar tissue in a mouse model. The first set of experiments will produce and characterize PEG modified MMP-1. This will be done through a series of molecular biological and biochemical techniques. In the second part of the grant the PEG-MMP-1 will be tested in a mouse model of muscle injury. Lacerations will be made in the hind legs of mice after which the natural healing process will be allowed to occur.