The effect of VEGF on the myogenic differentiation of adipose tissue derived stem cells within thermosensitive hydrogel matrices

We investigated the combination of human adipose tissue derived stem cells (ADSC) and in vivo gel-forming methoxy poly (ethyleneglycol)-poly (ε-caprolactone) (MPEG-PCL) as a muscle regeneration matrix, with and without inclusion of vascular endothelial cell growth factor (VEGF). VEGF₁₆₅-treated stem cell grafts showed significant proliferation and differentiation into muscle tissue in vivo. Importantly, the inclusion of VEGF enhanced vascularization. This scaffold supported preconditioned ADSC, and allowed them to differentiate into mature muscle tissues in vivo, indicating that ADSC of human origin and MPEG-PCL scaffolds provided an appropriate environment for cellular growth and expansion. Our results thus provide a potential solution to the major obstacle encountered in the engineering of thick complex tissues, which require an adequate blood supply to maintain cell viability during tissue growth and to induce appropriate structural organization. Therefore, the combination of ADSC and in vivo gel-forming MPEG-PCL with VEGF₁₆₅ might serve as a suitable non-invasive biomaterial for clinical muscle regeneration applications.