BACKGROUND: Autologous fat transplantation is a common technique for soft tissue augmentation in aesthetic and reconstructive surgery; however, the degree of fat graft take can be unpredictable. Hyaluronan has been shown to be a promising cell carrier in adipose tissue engineering. OBJECTIVES: The authors investigate the effect of a hyaluronan hydrogel on fat graft survival, angiogenesis, and volume maintenance in a rat model. METHODS: Fat was harvested from the groins of 27 rats, processed, and injected beneath the animals' dorsums to form 2 grafts: 1 containing fat alone and 1 containing fat and hyaluronan hydrogel in a 1:1 mix (fat-HA). The grafts were scanned in vivo under high-resolution computed tomography at baseline and prior to euthanasia at 4, 12, and 20 weeks to measure total fat-HA graft volume as well as the volume of the fat component alone. Histological studies were performed after sacrifice to evaluate fat necrosis and blood vessel density. RESULTS: All grafts were clinically viable. Overall, fat necrosis was significantly reduced in the fat-HA grafts compared with the grafts containing fat alone (P < .001). This difference was most profound at 4 weeks (P = .008) but did not reach statistical significance at 12 and 20 weeks. At 12 weeks, blood vessel density in the fat-HA grafts was significantly greater than in the grafts containing fat alone (P = .016), but this did not reach statistical significance at 4 or 20 weeks. At 20 weeks, the fat component of the fat-HA graft had significantly less volume loss than the fat-alone graft (P = .008). CONCLUSIONS: When mixed with fat, hyaluronan hydrogel can improve early fat graft survival and may enhance vascularity and prolong volume maintenance.
BACKGROUND: Autologous fat transplantation is a common technique for soft tissue augmentation in aesthetic and reconstructive surgery; however, the degree of fat graft take can be unpredictable. Hyaluronan has been shown to be a promising cell carrier in adipose tissue engineering. OBJECTIVES: The authors investigate the effect of a hyaluronan hydrogel on fat graft survival, angiogenesis, and volume maintenance in a rat model. METHODS:Fat was harvested from the groins of 27 rats, processed, and injected beneath the animals' dorsums to form 2 grafts: 1 containing fat alone and 1 containing fat and hyaluronan hydrogel in a 1:1 mix (fat-HA). The grafts were scanned in vivo under high-resolution computed tomography at baseline and prior to euthanasia at 4, 12, and 20 weeks to measure total fat-HA graft volume as well as the volume of the fat component alone. Histological studies were performed after sacrifice to evaluate fatnecrosis and blood vessel density. RESULTS: All grafts were clinically viable. Overall, fatnecrosis was significantly reduced in the fat-HA grafts compared with the grafts containing fat alone (P < .001). This difference was most profound at 4 weeks (P = .008) but did not reach statistical significance at 12 and 20 weeks. At 12 weeks, blood vessel density in the fat-HA grafts was significantly greater than in the grafts containing fat alone (P = .016), but this did not reach statistical significance at 4 or 20 weeks. At 20 weeks, the fat component of the fat-HA graft had significantly less volume loss than the fat-alone graft (P = .008). CONCLUSIONS: When mixed with fat, hyaluronan hydrogel can improve early fat graft survival and may enhance vascularity and prolong volume maintenance.
Authors: Maryse Proulx; Kim Aubin; Jean Lagueux; Pierre Audet; Michèle Auger; Marc-André Fortin; Julie Fradette Journal: Tissue Eng Part C Methods Date: 2015-02-25 Impact factor: 3.056
Authors: Maria Serena Piccinno; Elena Veronesi; Pietro Loschi; Marco Pignatti; Alba Murgia; Giulia Grisendi; Ilaria Castelli; Daniela Bernabei; Olivia Candini; Pierfranco Conte; Paolo Paolucci; Edwin M Horwitz; Giorgio De Santis; Lorenzo Iughetti; Massimo Dominici Journal: Apoptosis Date: 2013-10 Impact factor: 4.677