2017 Volume No 33 – pages 268-278
|
Title: Potentials and limitations of Integra® flowable wound matrix seeded with adipose tissue-derived microvascular fragments |
Authors: T Später, FS Frueh, MD Menger, MW Laschke |
|
Address: Institute for Clinical and Experimental Surgery, Saarland University, 66421 Homburg/Saar, Germany |
|
E-mail: matthias.laschke at uks.eu |
|
Key Words: Integra®, flowable matrix, dermal substitute, skin, tissue engineering, wound healing, epithelialisation, vascularisation, dorsal skinfold chamber.
|
|
Publication date: April 5th 2017 |
|
Abstract: Adipose tissue-derived microvascular fragments (ad-MVF) represent promising vascularisation units for bioengineered Integra® matrix wound dressing (MWD). However, due to the sheet-like structure with small pore sizes, the seeding of this matrix with ad-MVF is mainly limited to its surface. Integra® flowable wound matrix (FWM) may be suitable to achieve a more homogeneous distribution and, thus, improved vascularisation, because this gel-like matrix allows for the direct admixture of ad-MVF during sample preparation. To test this hypothesis, we seeded MWD and FWM with an identical number of ad-MVF and assessed their distribution and inter-fragment distance within both matrices. Moreover, ad-MVF-seeded MWD and FWM were implanted into full-thickness skin defects within mouse dorsal skinfold chambers to analyse their vascularisation, epithelialisation and tissue incorporation using intravital fluorescence microscopy, histology and immunohistochemistry. Seeded FWM exhibited a more homogeneous ad-MVF distribution, when compared to MWD. This resulted in a significantly increased inter-fragment distance, preventing the reassembly of ad-MVF into new microvascular networks. Accordingly, the vascularisation of FWM was diminished after implantation, as indicated by a reduced functional microvessel density and blood perfusion. This was associated with a decreased tissue incorporation and epithelialisation of the matrix, when compared to ad-MVF-seeded MWD. Hence, the use of FWM as a carrier system may require a tremendous amount of ad-MVF to shorten their inter-fragment distance and, thus, to maintain their vascularisation capacity for tissue engineering applications.
|
|
Article download: Pages
268-278 (PDF file) |
|