Muscle Matrix
Overview
The MTM team, along with the Healy Lab at UC Berkeley, seeks to address volumetric muscle loss correlated with trauma and sport-related injuries through the application of a hyaluronic-based hydrogel to promote soft tissue regeneration.
The Issue
Volumetric Muscle Loss (VML) is a severe condition where a substantial amount of muscle tissue is lost due to trauma, leading to long-term functional impairments. Current treatments, such as surgical muscle grafts or flaps, are highly invasive and often result in tissue morbidity or lower body deformities, with limited success in fully restoring muscle function or structure. The lack of approved therapies to regenerate lost muscle tissue highlights the need for innovative approaches to improve both muscle volume restoration and long-term quality of life for VML patients.
Approach
Our approach aims to enhance muscle regeneration at the cellular level by offering native cells a structural framework for growth using a hyaluronic acid-based hydrogel.
MTM Student Engagement
Our interdisciplinary team is dedicated to uncovering regulatory pathways, prototyping delivery systems for hyaluronic acid-based hydrogels, conducting biocompatibility studies in animal models, and developing manufacturing and commercialization strategies.
Project Brief
