title: Structural and rheological characterization of hyaluronic acid-based scaffolds for adipose tissue engineering.
abstract: In this study the attention has been focused on the ester derivative of hyaluronic acid (HA), HYAFF11, as a potential three-dimensional scaffold in adipose tissue engineering. Different HYAFF11 sponges having different pore sizes, coated or not coated with HA, have been studied from a rheological and morphological point of view in order to correlate their structure to the macroscopic and degradation properties both in vitro and in vivo, using rat model. The in vitro results indicate that the HYAFF11 sponges possess proper structural and mechanical properties to be used as scaffolds for adipose tissue engineering and, among all the analysed samples, uncoated HYAFF11 large-pore sponges showed a longer lasting mechanical stability. From the in vivo results, it was observed that the elastic modulus of scaffolds seeded with preadipocytes, the biohybrid constructs, and explanted after 3 months of implantation in autologous rat model are over one order of magnitude higher than the corresponding values for the native tissue. These results could suggest that the implanted scaffolds can be invaded and populated by different cells, not only adipocytes, that can produce new matrix having different properties from that of adipose tissue.
authors.affiliation: IMCB-CNR, P.le Tecchio 80, 80125 Naples, Italy. bassunta@unina.it
authors.forename: Assunta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Borzacchiello
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mayol
authors.forename: Piera A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Ramires
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pastorello
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Di Bartolo
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ambrosio
authors.forename: Evelina
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Milella
mesh_terms: D017667:Adipocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000637:transplantation; D000818:Animals; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible / Q000737:chemistry*; D004548:Elasticity; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000737:chemistry*; D020007:Implants, Experimental; D008422:Materials Testing; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D016062:Porosity; D051381:Rats; D012212:Rheology; D013997:Time Factors; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous
chemical_list: D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid