Analysis of the extracellular matrix of bioengineered tendon tissue by means of MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry and NMR spectroscopy.

• Applicant: Dr. Ariane Nimptsch
• Subject Area: Analytical Chemistry
• Term: from 2013 to 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 236177071

Tendon injuries are common injuries of the musculoskeletal system in humans and animals (especially sports horses) and occur, particularly in the case of horses (with an incidence of 46%), very often. The tendon injuries or the scar tissue, which is formed during the healing process, lead to limited functionality and restricted mobility which results in a significant reduction in the quality of life. Regenerative therapeutic applications of multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC), especially in human and/or equine orthopedics, represent a significant and promising treatment option.In order to improve the stem cell therapy or the healing of tendon tissue and to avoid animal experiments whenever possible, tendon equivalents and MSC, derived from different tissues, are cultivated using a bioreactor. The aim of the present proposal is the comprehensive analysis of such cell and/or tissue cultures. Since the mechanism of tenogenesis is scarcely known, characteristic extracellular tendinous matrix (ECM) proteins, e.g. of the collagen family (coll I and III), mohawk (MKX), scleraxis and tenascin-C or tenomodulin (TNMD) will be investigated in addition to the glycosaminoglycan (GAG) and lipid composition.In particular, methods of MALDI-TOF MS, ESI MS and NMR techniques will be used to detect specific "markers" for tendon tissue. The described analytical methods will be exploited for the quality control of the tendon equivalents, thereby the conditions of cultivation in the bioreactor get optimized which in turn will contribute to the improvement of MSZ therapy in tendon healing and will help to understand the mechanisms of in vivo tenogenesis.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants