title: VEGF microsphere technology to enhance vascularization in fat grafting.
abstract: Vascularization is crucial for implantation of engineered tissues in reconstructive surgery. Polypeptides encapsulated in microspheres can be efficiently transported to their site of action and released in a sustained dosage. We evaluated the effect of delivering vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-encapsulated microspheres in a lipoaspirate scaffold on vascularization and tissue survival. The VEGF-loaded (n=6) and empty (n=6) poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) microspheres in human lipoaspirate and the human lipoaspirate alone (n=6) were injected subcutaneously into the flanks of athymic nude mice. Three mice from each group were killed, and grafts were explanted at weeks 3 and 6. Increases in mass and volume of VEGF samples, as well as decreases in empty and lipoaspirate-only samples, were observed at 3 and 6 weeks, reaching statistical significance at 6 weeks. Hematoxylin and eosin and CD31+ imaging demonstrated significantly greater vascularization in VEGF samples than in both the empty and lipoaspirate-only groups at both 3 and 6 weeks.
authors: Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
authors: Christopher W
authors: CW
authors: Chung
authors: Kacey G
authors: KG
authors: Marra
authors: Han
authors: H
authors: Li
authors: Alan S
authors: AS
authors: Leung
authors: Donna H
authors: DH
authors: Ward
authors: Huaping
authors: H
authors: Tan
authors: Arta
authors: A
authors: Kelmendi-Doko
authors: J Peter
authors: JP
authors: Rubin
mesh_terms: D052436:Adipose Tissue, White / Q000098:blood supply / Q000254:growth & development / Q000637:transplantation*; D043925:Angiogenesis Inducing Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006085:Graft Survival; D048091:Guided Tissue Regeneration / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D015187:Lipectomy; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D008863:Microspheres; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000187:drug effects*; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D043925:Angiogenesis Inducing Agents; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A