Injectable Small Intestinal Submucosa and Adipose-Derived Stem Cells Composite Gel Promoting The Deep Partial-Thickness Burns Repair

Backgroud: Burns wound treatment remains a significant clinical challenge around the world. Although stem cell-based scaffold therapies are promising strategy for burn wounds, its clinical therapeutic effect is still not satisfactory nowadays. Herein the aim of this study is to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of injectable small intestinal submucosa (SIS) and rat adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs) composite gel to repair the deep partial thickness burns in rats. Methods The deep partial-thickness burns model in rats were made by contacting the dorsal surface SIS memberance directly with boiled water for 10 seconds. After scalding, the wound edge and the central area were injected for phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) solution, ADSCs, injectable SIS and injectable SIS/ ADSCs composite gel, respectively. At 3, 7, 14 and 21 days post injection treatment, the burn wound closure percentages were evaluated. Moreover, micro-vascular density and epidermal thickness assessment in burn wound were performed by histopathology examination or immunofluorescence. Besides, the expression of genes related to wound angiogenesis and re-epithelialization were determined in vitro. Results Our data revealed that that injectable SIS gel could provide a well-grown microenvironment for ADSCs in vitro, and the ADSCs-SIS composite gel could synergistically promote the deep partial-thickness burn repair via paracrine and differentiation mechanisms. Conclusions Taken together, this study shows the ADSCs-SIS composite gel is a promising candidate for burn wound regeneration.