1. Academic Validation
  2. Prevascularized Hydrogel Enhancing Innervation and Repair of Full-Thickness Volumetric Muscle Loss in Abdominal Wall Defects

Prevascularized Hydrogel Enhancing Innervation and Repair of Full-Thickness Volumetric Muscle Loss in Abdominal Wall Defects

  • Adv Healthc Mater. 2025 Mar 9:e2402433. doi: 10.1002/adhm.202402433.
Chia-Chang Hsieh 1 Jun-Zhi Dai 1 Chun-Chuan Ni 1 Shih-Yen Wei 1 Min-Chun Tsai 1 Po-Yu Chen 1 Ling Fang 1 Ren-Hao Xie 2 3 Guan-Yu Chen 2 3 4 5 Gung-Chian Yin 6 Ying-Chieh Chen 1 7
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National Tsing-Hua University, Hsinchu, 300044, Taiwan.
  • 2 Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, 300093, Taiwan.
  • 3 Institute of Biomedical Engineering, College of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, 300093, Taiwan.
  • 4 Department of Biological Science and Technology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, 300093, Taiwan.
  • 5 Center for Intelligent Drug Systems and Smart Bio-devices (IDS2B), National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, 300093, Taiwan.
  • 6 National Synchrotron Radiation Research Center, Hsinchu, 300092, Taiwan.
  • 7 College of Semiconductor Research, National Tsing-Hua University, Hsinchu, 300044, Taiwan.
Abstract

Current materials for repairing abdominal peritoneal defects face rapid degradation, infection risk, insufficient vascular ingrowth, slow muscle regeneration, and suboptimal postoperative integration, often causing fibrotic healing and hindering volumetric muscle loss (VML) repair exceeding 30%. To address these issues, photo-cross-linkable gelatin hydrogels are combined with blood vessel-forming cells to reconstruct vascular networks, providing temporary nutrient and gas channels that support cell repair. By developing a polymer-chain propagation time technique, hydrogel properties are optimized, avoiding limitations of conventional light exposure. These gels guide blood-vessel formation in vitro and promote robust microvessel and neural development in vivo. Precise control of light exposure and propagation times balances cross-linking and degradation, fostering blood vessel growth and host motor neuron ingrowth. In 55% VML, these hydrogels enable full-thickness abdominal muscle regeneration, restoring up to 70% of lost muscle while mimicking healthy tissue's strength and structure. Achieving higher degradation rates and a vascular density exceeding 50 vessels/mm-2 is essential for functional muscle repair. These strategies effectively bridge current clinical gaps, advancing regenerative medicine. The ability to fine-tune degradation and stiffness underscores gelatin hydrogels' potential as cell carriers, allowing the reconstruction of temporary vascular and neural channels at injury sites and significantly enhancing muscle tissue regeneration.

Keywords

Gelatin‐Methacryloyl; abdominal wall defect repair; biodegradation; cell‐populated gelatin hydrogel; vascular nerve network formation; volumetric muscle loss.

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