Identifying and Evaluating Novel Biological Targets to Improve Musculoskeletal Tissue Engineering Strategies

...................................................................................................................i Acknowledgements.................................................................................................iv Organization of Dissertation................................................................................vii List of Tables............................................................................................................1 List of Figures..........................................................................................................2 Chapter 1. Background, Rationale, and Research Objectives...........................3 Chapter 2. Literature Review..............................................................................11 Chapter 3. Functional Tissue Engineering of Tendon: Establishing Biological Success Criteria for Improving Tendon Repair.........36 Abstract...........................................................................................................37 Introduction......................................................................................................38 Using FTE Principles to Improve Tendon Repair....................................................38 Need for Developing Biological Success Criteria....................................................40 Strategy to Develop Biological Success Criteria.....................................................41 Comparing Normal Development and Natural Healing to Select Biological Success Criteria............................................................................................................43 Discussion........................................................................................................49 Conclusion.......................................................................................................51 Acknowledgements............................................................................................52 Chapter 4. Improved Biomechanical and Biological Outcomes in the MRL/MpJ Murine Strain Following a Full-Length Patellar Tendon Injury......................................................................................................................53 Abstract...........................................................................................................54 Introduction......................................................................................................55 Results.............................................................................................................57 Discussion........................................................................................................70 Materials and Methods.......................................................................................74 Acknowledgements............................................................................................81 Chapter 5. Comparing and Contrasting the Temporal Healing RNA Expression Profiles Following Injury Among the C57BL/6, LG/J, and MRL/MpJ Murine Strains....................................................................................82 Abstract...........................................................................................................83 Introduction......................................................................................................84 Results.............................................................................................................85 Discussion........................................................................................................91 Materials and Methods.......................................................................................96 Acknowledgements..........................................................................................100