Adipose Tissue Engineering Constraction in 3D Matrigel-Collagen Extracellular Matrix

Seeding pre-adipocytes into scaffolds and development of tissue-engineered fat construction are showing great importance in developing augmentation and reconstructive surgeries such as treating deep wounds and burns and plastic surgery procedures. Thus, adipose tissue engineering (ATE) methods are being investigated as a clinical alternative. In this study we propose that both collagen and Matrigel based solution may be a proper material in terms of biological compatibility. Matrigel is known as an appropriate scaffold for culturing of different kinds of cells as it resembles complex ECM environment found in many tissues of the body. However, adipocytes have yet to be researched regarding Matrigel.

Different ratios of Matrigel-Collagen solutions were mixed to create different 3D structures. Adipose cells (NIH 3T3-L1) were then seeded on top of the scaffold in each well, while creating also control wells of the gel for each ratio. When wells reached optimal cell confluence they were exposed to differentiation medium to induce adiposeness. Histological sections were made and dyed for LD and nucleus detection in order to verify penetration of cells into scaffold and confocal images and SEM of these sections were taken. The results indicate that adipose cells can proliferate and differentiate in Matrigel-Collagen at optimal ratio 1:1. Confocal images and SEM showed adipocytes cells inside the scaffold which confirms the penetration of the cells inside the scaffold. These results show for the first time the possibility of using Matrigel-Collagen scaffolds as a bio-artificial fat tissue and as a scaffold in adipose tissue engineering.