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Electrospun Photocrosslinkable Hydrogel Fibrous Scaffolds for Rapid In Vivo Vascularized Skin Flap Regeneration
Author(s) -
Sun Xiaoming,
Lang Qi,
Zhang Hongbo,
Cheng Liying,
Zhang Ying,
Pan Guoqing,
Zhao Xin,
Yang Huilin,
Zhang Yuguang,
Santos Hélder A.,
Cui Wenguo
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
advanced functional materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.069
H-Index - 322
eISSN - 1616-3028
pISSN - 1616-301X
DOI - 10.1002/adfm.201604617
Subject(s) - gelatin , materials science , self healing hydrogels , scaffold , regeneration (biology) , electrospinning , biomedical engineering , adhesion , tissue engineering , in vivo , chemistry , polymer chemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , composite material , polymer , medicine , biology , biochemistry
Distal necrosis of random skin flap is always clinical problematic in plastic surgery. The development of 3D functional vascular networks is fundamental for the survival of a local random skin flap. Herein, an effective technique on constructing 3D fibrous scaffolds for accelerated vascularization is demonstrated using a photocrosslinkable natural hydrogel based on gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) by electrospinning. It is found that the ultraviolet (UV) photocrosslinkable gelatin electrospun hydrogel fibrous membranes exhibit soft adjustable mechanical properties and controllable degradation properties. Furthermore, it is observed that the optimized hydrogel scaffolds can support endothelial cells and dermal fibroblasts adhesion, proliferation, and migration into the scaffolds, which facilitates vascularization. Importantly, a rapid formation of tubes is observed after 3 d seeding of endothelial cells. After GelMA fibrous scaffold implantation below the skin flap in a rat model, it is found that the flap survival rate is higher than the control group, and there is more microvascular formation, which is potentially beneficial for the flap tissue vascularization. These data suggest that GelMA hydrogels can be used for biomedical applications that require the formation of microvascular networks, including the development of complex engineered tissues.