Fig. 9: Application of GelMA-c-rFGF7 promotes repair of injured patellar tendon and restores motor function in SD rats.

A Schematic illustration of repairing injured patellar tendon tissue using GelMA-c-rFGF7. B Schematic of the footprint analysis experiment. Gait spatial parameter statistics at different time points (2w, 4w) for different experimental groups (Injury, GelMA, GelMA-c-rFGF7, Sham): stride length (C), stride width (D), step length (E), paw spatial parameters: toe spread (F), paw length (G) (n = 6 per group, bars represent mean ± SD; *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001, two-tailed Student’s t test). H Representative paw prints of each group at 4 weeks post-surgery. Scale bars, 5 mm. I Schematic of the rat exhaustion experiment. J Statistical graphs of maximum exhaustion speed, time, and distance (left to right) at 2 weeks post-surgery for different experimental groups (Injury, GelMA, GelMA-c-rFGF7, Sham) (n = 6 per group, bars represent mean ± SD; **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001, two-tailed Student’s t test). K Statistical graphs of maximum exhaustion speed, time and distance (left to right) at 4 weeks post-surgery for different experimental groups (Injury, GelMA, GelMA-c-rFGF7, Sham) (n = 6 per group, bars represent mean ± SD; **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001, two-tailed Student’s t test). L Representative gross observations of repaired patellar tendon tissue at post-surgery (2w and 4w) for different experimental groups (Injury, GelMA, GelMA-c-rFGF7, Sham). M Schematic of mechanical testing for different experimental groups (Injury, GelMA, GelMA-c-rFGF7, Sham) at 4 weeks post-surgery. N Statistical graphs of mechanical testing results at 4 weeks post-surgery for different experimental groups (Injury, GelMA, GelMA-c-rFGF7, Sham), showing Stress at Failure, Failure Force and Modulus (from top to bottom) (n = 6 per group, wildtype group n = 5, bars represent mean ± SD; NS: not significant, *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001, two-tailed Student’s t test). Source data are provided as a Source Data file.