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Optimizing Extracellular Vesicle Delivery Using a Core-Sheath 3D-Bioprinted Scaffold for Chronic Wound Management
Published on: February 28, 2025
Enhanced wound vascularization using a dsASCs seeded FPEG scaffold.
David O Zamora1, Shanmugasundaram Natesan, Sandra Becerra
1Regenerative Medicine Research Program, United States Army Institute of Surgical Research, 3698 Chambers Pass, BHT 1: Bldg 3611, Fort Sam Houston, TX, 78234-6315, USA.
Angiogenesis
|May 28, 2013
Summary
Adult human adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) in PEG-fibrin gels promote wound healing by enhancing vascularization and collagen deposition. These stem cells may support new blood vessel formation through direct and indirect trophic effects, aiding tissue regeneration.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Regenerative Medicine
- Wound Healing Research
Background:
- Bioengineering autologous vascular networks is crucial for effective wound healing.
- Adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) show potential for differentiation into vascular cells.
- The role of ASCs in modulating wound vascularization requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential of adult human ASCs embedded in a 3D PEG-fibrin (FPEG) gel to enhance vascularization in wound healing.
- To characterize the in vitro and in vivo behavior of ASCs within an FPEG gel construct for wound applications.
Main Methods:
- Isolation and characterization of ASCs from discarded burn skin samples (dsASCs).
- Embedding dsASCs in FPEG hydrogel scaffolds.
- In vitro assessment of dsASC marker expression (pericyte/smooth muscle cell markers).
- In vivo evaluation using a rat skin excision model to assess wound healing, collagen deposition, and vascularization.
Main Results:
- In vitro studies showed dsASCs expressed pericyte/mural cell markers, suggesting a supportive role in vascularization.
- Rat skin wounds treated with dsASCs-FPEG gels exhibited accelerated collagen deposition and remodeling compared to controls.
- dsASC-treated wounds demonstrated a significant increase in vascular density by day 16 post-wounding (~66.7/mm(2) vs. ~36.9/mm(2)).
- In vitro analysis indicated dsASCs contribute vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), supporting increased vascularization.
Conclusions:
- Adult human dsASCs encapsulated in FPEG gels can promote wound vascularization and accelerate healing.
- dsASCs may support vascular network formation through direct cellular interactions and indirect trophic factor release (e.g., VEGF).
- Autologous dsASCs hold therapeutic potential for enhancing the integration of engineered tissues with host vasculature in regenerative medicine applications.
