Prevascularization of Dermal Substitutes with Adipose Tissue-Derived Microvascular Fragments Enhances Early Skin Grafting

The study explored the use of adipose tissue-derived microvascular fragments (ad-MVF) to enhance the prevascularization of dermal substitutes, aiming to improve early skin grafting outcomes. In a mouse model, prevascularized matrices showed significantly higher microvascular and lymphatic network densities, leading to better implant integration and successful autologous split-thickness skin grafting (STSG) as early as 10 days post-implantation. The study involved 6 mice for STSG experiments and 8 for vascularization experiments. The findings indicated that ad-MVF improved graft survival, increased oxygen levels, and enhanced lymphatic vessel density, suggesting a promising strategy for improving wound healing and potentially reducing infection risk and hospitalization times.