The Achilles tendon, while the strongest and largest tendon in the body, is frequently injured. Even after surgical repair, patients risk re-rupture and long-term deficits in function. Poly-N-acetyl glucosamine (sNAG) polymer has been shown to increase the rate of healing of venous leg ulcers, and use of this material improved tendon-to-bone healing in a rat model of rotator cuff injury. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the healing properties of liquid sNAG polymer suspension in a rat partial Achilles tear model. We hypothesized that repeated sNAG injections throughout healing would improve Achilles tendon healing as measured by improved mechanical properties and cellular morphology compared to controls. Results demonstrate that sNAG has a positive effect on rat Achilles tendon healing at three weeks after a full thickness, partial width injury. sNAG treatment led to increased quasistatic tendon stiffness, and increased tangent and secant stiffness throughout fatigue cycling protocols. Increased dynamic modulus also suggests improved viscoelastic properties with sNAG treatment. No differences were identified in histological properties. Importantly, use of this material did not have any negative effects on any measured parameter. These results support further study of this material as a minimally invasive treatment modality for tendon healing.

跟腱虽然是身体中最强和最大的肌腱，但经常受伤。即使在手术修复后，患者仍有再次破裂和长期功能缺陷的风险。聚-N-乙酰氨基葡萄糖 (sNAG) 聚合物已被证明可以提高静脉性腿部溃疡的愈合率，并且在大鼠肩袖损伤模型中使用这种材料可以改善肌腱到骨的愈合。因此，本研究的目的是研究液体 sNAG 聚合物悬浮液在大鼠部分跟腱撕裂模型中的愈合特性。我们假设在整个愈合过程中重复注射 sNAG 会改善跟腱愈合，这是通过与对照组相比改善的机械性能和细胞形态来衡量的。结果表明，sNAG 对大鼠跟腱全层后三周的愈合具有积极作用，部分宽度损伤。sNAG 治疗导致准静态肌腱刚度增加，并在整个疲劳循环协议中增加了切线和割线刚度。增加的动态模量也表明通过 sNAG 处理可以改善粘弹性。在组织学特性中没有发现差异。重要的是，使用这种材料对任何测量参数都没有任何负面影响。这些结果支持进一步研究这种材料作为肌腱愈合的微创治疗方式。使用这种材料对任何测量参数没有任何负面影响。这些结果支持进一步研究这种材料作为肌腱愈合的微创治疗方式。使用这种材料对任何测量参数没有任何负面影响。这些结果支持进一步研究这种材料作为肌腱愈合的微创治疗方式。