BACKGROUND: Tendon rupture repair can result from fibrotic scar formation through imbalanced ECM deposition during remodeling. The tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloprotease (TIMPs) not only decrease ECM degradation, regulated by matrix metalloproteases (MMPs), but also restrict TGF-β1 activation and thus diminish fibrosis. METHODS: Rabbit tenocytes (rbTenocytes) and rabbit adipose-derived stem cells (rbASCs) were cultivated under different TIMP-1 concentrations. Proliferation and gene expression were assessed. TIMP-1 was incorporated into emulsion electrospun DegraPol RESULTS: While the proliferation of rbTenocytes and rbACS was not affected by TIMP-1 supplementation in vitro, the gene expression of CONCLUSIONS: TIMP-1/DP tubes may be used to modulate the fibrotic tissue reaction when applied around conventionally sutured tendon ruptures.