Title: Induction of adipose tissue regeneration by chemically-modified hyaluronic acid

Authors: Nicholas P. Rhodes, Chiara Di Bartolo, Davide Bellini, John A. Hunt

Addresses: Division of Clinical Engineering, UK Centre for Tissue Engineering, University of Liverpool, Duncan Building, Daulby Street, Liverpool L69 3GA, UK. ' Fidia Advanced Biopolymers, via Ponte della Fabbrica 3/A, Abano Terme, Padova 35031, Italy. ' Fidia Advanced Biopolymers, via Ponte della Fabbrica 3/A, Abano Terme, Padova 35031, Italy. ' Division of Clinical Engineering, UK Centre for Tissue Engineering, University of Liverpool, Duncan Building, Daulby Street, Liverpool L69 3GA, UK

Abstract: Hyaluronan was modified by amidation of the carboxyl groups with dodycyl amides to produce a viscous gel (HYADD3). Small aliquots were implanted intramuscularly in Wistar rats at a concentration of 30 mg/ml for up to 12 weeks. Standard histology and immunohistochemistry demonstrated low levels of inflammation at all time periods, absence of any fibrous capsule coupled with the presence of mature adipocytes within the degrading gel. It is concluded that the chemical architecture of HYADD3 gel causes the de novo regeneration of soft tissue by recruitment of appropriate progenitor cells.

Keywords: chemical modification; adipose tissue; acellular; in vivo; amidation; hyaluronan; inflammation; histology; tissue regeneration; hyaluronic acid; soft tissue; progenitor cells; immunohistochemistry; biomaterials.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNBM.2008.016874

International Journal of Nano and Biomaterials, 2008 Vol.1 No.3, pp.250 - 262

Published online: 26 Jan 2008 *

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