A Fibrin Hydrogel Encapsulated with Gingival-Derived MSC Extracellular Vesicle-Laden Small Intestine Submucosa Construct Promotes Tongue Myomucosal Regeneration in Rats
Puhan He, DMD; Qilin Xu, DMD, PhD; Qunzhou Zhang, PhD; Rabie M. Shanti, DMD, MD; Anh D. Le, DDS, PhD;
- Abstract
- Reconstruction of large craniofacial tissue defects, particularly, reconstruction of the tongue defects following ablative surgery of oral cancer, remains one of the major challenges in oral and maxillofacial surgery. Even though much progress has been made in reconstructive principles and techniques, fully functional recovery of the tongue defects is still a great challenge. Currently, microvascular soft tissue free flaps, made up of skin, subcutaneous adipose tissue and fascia, are the gold standard for tongue reconstruction. However, these free flaps do not allow for both structural and functional restoration of the tongue, for example the restoration of its muscular-like tissues and critical vocal, chewing, swallowing, and tasting functions. Meanwhile, harvesting these flaps may result in donor site morbidity and varying degree of edema, limb weakness, and scar formation. In recent years, much efforts have been made to explore the use of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and their derivative cell-free products, e.g. extracellular vesicles (EVs), in combination with biomaterials to generate tissue engineering and regenerative (TE/RM) products to facilitate repair/regeneration of damaged tissues. Most recently, we have shown that combined use of EVs released by gingiva-derived mesenchymal stem cells (GMSC-EVs) and porcine small intestine submucosa extracellular matrix (SIS-ECM) could facilitate myomucosal regeneration in tongue defects of rats. This work aims to bring the TE/RM product closer to clinical application by using GMSC-EVs encapsulated in fibrin hydrogel as a delivery system. We hypothesize that fibrin hydrogel can provide a sustained release of EVs allowing for greater myomucosal regeneration. Specifically, we aim to determine the therapeutic effect and regenerative potential of SIS constructs laden with GMSC-derived EVs encapsulated in fibrin hydrogel in a critical-sized tongue defect model in rats as well as determine potential mechanisms involved.
- Presented by
- Puhan He
- Institution
- University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine
- Other Affiliations
- Hospital of University of Pennsylvania;
- Keywords





