# Water contact angle data and FTIR data of stem cell/tenocyte co-culture-derived secretome releasing electrospun tube; and adhesion data of fully transected and sutured rabbit Achilles tendons three weeks post-operation under application of such a tube

## TL;DR

This study explores using a secretome-infused electrospun tube to reduce adhesion after tendon surgery in rabbits.

## Contribution

A novel cell-free secretome-releasing electrospun tube is developed and tested for tendon adhesion prevention.

## Key findings

- The secretome-infused tubes showed distinct water contact angle and FTIR characteristics compared to controls.
- Implanted tubes reduced adhesion in rabbit Achilles tendons three weeks post-surgery.
- The cell-free approach demonstrates potential for improving tendon repair outcomes.

## Abstract

Tendon ruptures may result in unsatisfactory outcomes, even after long rehabilitation programs and careful return to daily activities and sports. One major problem after a tendon rupture is the fibrotic adhesion formation to the adjacent tissue, which hampers proper motion and may end up in a permanent reduced range of motion.

Following a cell-free approach, we cultivated rabbit adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) and rabbit Achilles tenocytes in a ratio of 3:1 and incorporated the secretome harvested from this co-culture into an emulsion electrospun tubular DegraPol® fiber mesh. These tubes were characterized by thestatic and dynamic water contact angles and by FTIR spectra, with a comparison to tubes without secretome incorporation (control). Furthermore, we present adhesion data from an in vivo experiment, where these tubes were implanted around a fully transected rabbit Achilles tendon after suture at 3 weeks post-operation.

Image, graphical abstract