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Decellularized skin/adipose tissue flap matrix for engineering vascularized composite soft tissue flaps.

Qixu Zhang¹, Joshua A Johnson¹, Lina W Dunne¹

¹Department of Plastic Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA.

Acta Biomaterialia

|February 16, 2016

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Engineered skin/adipose tissue flaps (DSAFs) support vascularization and adipose tissue formation. This promising platform offers a viable alternative for soft tissue reconstruction, overcoming limitations of autologous flaps.

Area of Science:

Biomaterials Science
Regenerative Medicine
Tissue Engineering

Background:

Autologous soft tissue flaps are standard for reconstruction but face limitations in availability and donor site morbidity.
Engineered soft tissue grafts present a potential alternative to autologous flaps for complex reconstructive needs.

Purpose of the Study:

To engineer a vascularized soft tissue flap using decellularized skin/adipose tissue matrix (DSAF) combined with human cells.
To evaluate the in vitro and in vivo integration, vascularization, and tissue regeneration of the engineered DSAF.

Main Methods:

Developed DSAF via perfusion decellularization, preserving extracellular matrix (ECM) and vasculature.
Repopulated DSAF with human adipose-derived stem cells (hASCs) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) in vitro.

Keywords:

Adipose tissue engineering Decellularization Extracellular matrix scaffold Skin/adipose tissue flap matrix Soft tissue flap engineering Vascularized composite tissue flap engineering

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Re-anastomosed engineered DSAF into nude rats and assessed in vivo neovascularization and tissue remodeling.

Main Results:

DSAF retained 3D nanofibrous structure, intact vasculature, and growth factors.
Recellularized DSAF demonstrated in vitro cell integration, aggregate formation, and vessel-like structures.
In vivo, engineered flaps showed neovascularization, M2 macrophage infiltration, and significant adipose tissue formation at 3 months.

Conclusions:

Engineered DSAF co-cultured with hASCs and HUVECs is a promising platform for vascularized soft tissue flap engineering.
This approach is scalable and adaptable for microsurgical reconstruction, offering a translatable solution for soft tissue defects.