Adipose tissue-specific determinants of the vascularization capacity of isolated microvascular fragments for tissue engineering

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Matthias W. Laschke, Ph.D.
• Subject Area: Orthopaedics, Traumatology, Reconstructive Surgery
• Term: from 2016 to 2023
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 318765517

Experimental studies indicate that isolated adipose tissue-derived microvascular fragments are effective vascularization units for tissue engineering. After their seeding onto scaffolds, these fragments rapidly develop into new microvascular networks, which interconnect with the vascular system of the host tissue after implantation. In our research project, we will investigate how this process is influenced by adipose tissue-specific determinants, which are of fundamental importance for the future clinical application. For this purpose, we will analyze the vascularization capacity of murine microvascular fragments from subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue in dependence on the gender, nutritional status and age of the fat donors in vitro and in an in vivo mouse model. In additional proof-of-principle experiments we will isolate and characterize for the first time microvascular fragments from human adipose tissue and use them for the prevascularization of implanted scaffolds. In this way, it will be possible to obtain essential knowledge for the successful translation of microvascular fragment-based vascularization strategies into clinical practice.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Co-Investigator: Professor Dr. Michael D. Menger