A tough, sticky gel to help aging and injured tendons heal
Supplement Multifunctional Tough Adhesive Hydrogels to Recruit, Expand, and Deliver Tendon Cells During Aging and Injury
A durable adhesive gel is being developed to gather, grow, and release tendon cells to help people with tendon injuries or age-related tendon problems heal better.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11412878 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This work develops a tough, sticky gel that can be placed on damaged tendons to hold tissue together and create a supportive site for healing. The gel is designed to stick to tendon surfaces, act as a depot for medicines, support cell growth, and still allow surrounding tissues to glide normally. Researchers will use lab and animal tests to show the gel can recruit nearby tendon cells, expand them inside the material, and release them on demand to boost repair. The project is led at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center with mentors in tendon biology, materials science, and orthopaedic surgery guiding the work.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with tendon injuries or age-related tendon degeneration (for example Achilles/calcaneal tendon problems) would be the most likely candidates for this approach.
Not a fit: People with unrelated health issues, minor self-limited tendon strains, active infection at the injury site, or severe immune compromise may not benefit from this treatment.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the gel could improve tendon healing strength and speed, potentially reducing pain and the need for repeat surgeries.
How similar studies have performed: Related slug-inspired adhesive biomaterials have shown promise in laboratory and animal studies but remain experimental for human tendon repair.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Freedman, Benjamin Ross — Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Freedman, Benjamin Ross
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.