MyoGel, manufactured by Bio-Link , is a novel muscle-derived biomaterial which is composed of a mixture of cytokines, growth factors and extracellular matrix protein constituents. MyoGel has proven to be highly adipogenic in tissue culture experiments in vitro. Using a previously described tissue engineering model (Cassell et al., 2001 Ann N Y Acad Sci. Nov;944:429-42) the researchers have also validated the adipogenic potential of MyoGel in vivo.
The salient features of the technology include :
- The matrix consists of EGF (0-100ng/ml), bFGF (0.3-4ng/ml), PDGF (1-3000pg/ml), TGF-β (1-2000pg/ml), VEGF (1-3000pg/ml) and TNF-α (1-1000pg/ml)
- The muscle-derived biomaterial is capable of inducing the growth of three-dimensional, vascularised fat tissue in rodents (mice and rats), when coated on the inside of hollow silicone chambers implanted in the groin region of animals
- A biological matrix derived from muscle tissue extracts of either human, rat, murine or porcine origin
- This muscle-derived biomaterial is capable of inducing differentiation of rat pre-adipocytes towards mature adipocytes when coated onto plastic tissue culture plates in vitro
- The matrix also contains laminin, collagen IV, entactin/nidogen, heparan sulphate proteoglycan (total protein concentration ranging between 1μg – 100mg/ml)
- Adaptable into different formulations to be incorporated into implants or 3D scaffolds
- Non-toxic in rodent experiments