title: Potentials and limitations of Integra® flowable wound matrix seeded with adipose tissue-derived microvascular fragments.
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.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Später
authors.forename: F S
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Frueh
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Menger
authors.affiliation: Institute for Clinical and Experimental Surgery, Saarland University, 66421 Homburg/Saar, Germany.matthias.laschke@uks.eu.
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Laschke
mesh_terms: D000256:Adenoviridae / Q000378:metabolism; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000098:blood supply*; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D004848:Epithelium / Q000473:pathology; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D020007:Implants, Experimental; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008853:Microscopy; D055806:Microvessels / Q000378:metabolism*; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D014945:Wound Healing