Sophia D's Senior Project Blog

Project Title: Determining the Efficacy of Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgeries BASIS Advisor: Kristen Sanders Internship Location: The Sarver Heart Center Onsite Mentor: Dr. Steven Goldman, M.D.

Project Abstract

Volumetric muscle loss in skeletal muscles can result from a variety of injuries such as crush injuries, penetrating trauma, blasts, open bone fractures, and surgeries such as cancer removal or procedures for compartment syndrome. It disproportionately affects military personnel, affecting over 75% of soldiers, as a result of blasts and trauma (Testa et al., 2021). Volumetric skeletal muscle loss can lead to functional impairments, significantly impacting a patient’s quality of life and physical capabilities. Regeneration of injured muscle tissue is a complex process, and traditional therapeutic approaches, such as physical therapy, surgical treatment, and prosthetics, often have limited success in restoring full muscle function. Innovative strategies such as immunomodulation and stem cell-based therapies may be able to improve muscle repair and regeneration. For my research project, I aim to study the regenerative processes following skeletal muscle injury and treatment with a cell-based biologic patch using in vivo and in vitro models to answer the question: How does the biologic patch change the skeletal muscle healing process after volumetric muscle loss? I will use immunofluorescence (IF) staining techniques to histologically evaluate and visualize critical markers involved in muscle regeneration: Paired Box 7 (Pax7), a transcription factor and marker for satellite cell muscle progenitor activation, Myosin Heavy Chain (MHC), a protein indicative of mature muscle fibers, and Collagen, an extracellular matrix protein that helps organize tissue architecture and give mechanical properties, as well as inform professionals about disease states like fibrosis. The groups for this study include biologic treated volumetric muscle loss (VML), untreated VML, sham, and normal control to assess the effectiveness of a biologic patch in promoting muscle regeneration. Images will be quantified for their relative fluorescence and length-based area calculation will be used to determine injury size and evaluate regeneration. Statistical significance is determined using a Students T-Test or Analysis of Variation (ANOVA) at P < 0.0. If data fails normality a Mann-Whitney Test is performed. I look forward to learning how to design and implement research protocols, analyze experimental data, and explore how novel therapies could impact the future of muscle injury treatment.