title: Effect of chitosan nanospheres loaded with VEGF on adipose tissue transplantation: a preliminary report.
abstract: Neovascularization plays an important role in adipose tissue transplantation, because survival of implanted cells strongly relies on sufficient oxygen and nutrient supply. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is known as the master regulator of angiogenesis. It is capable of starting the complex cascade of events leading to endothelial cell activation, assembly of new vascular structures, mural cell recruitment, and vessel stabilization. However, consensus is lacking regarding safe and efficient methods for applying VEGF in free fat transplantation in the clinical setting. We investigated whether chitosan nanospheres, a biocompatible high-molecular-weight material, safely improve the efficiency of VEGF application in free fat transplantation. Immunologically compromised nude mice were used as adipose tissue transplantation receptors. Nanospheres loaded with VEGF were mixed with adipocytes and injected subcutaneously to the dorsa of mice. Grafts were harvested at weeks 3, 6, and 12. We found that treated-graft weight and vascularization were significantly higher than controls in a time-dependent manner. We demonstrated that chitosan nanospheres loaded with VEGF significantly promote the fat graft neovascularization and improve adipocyte survival.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Plastic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University , Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, P.R. China .
authors.forename: Meng-Yuan
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Shi-Li
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Song-Jia
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Hu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Hai-Fei
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Xiao Z
authors.initials: XZ
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Wei-Qiang
authors.initials: WQ
authors.lastname: Tan
mesh_terms: D017667:Adipocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology* / Q000637:transplantation*; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D043925:Angiogenesis Inducing Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry; D000818:Animals; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry*; D004058:Diffusion; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D053769:Nanocapsules / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure; D054118:Nanospheres / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D010316:Particle Size; D010865:Pilot Projects; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D043925:Angiogenesis Inducing Agents; D053769:Nanocapsules; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D048271:Chitosan