Microvascular fragment-loaded platelet-rich plasma dressing promotes cutaneous wound healing.

OBJECTIVE: Chronic wounds represent a considerable burden for the affected patients and the healthcare system. To overcome this problem, effective treatment strategies are urgently required. In this study, we tested a novel approach by combining platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and microvascular fragments (MVF) to create a prevascularized gel dressing.

APPROACH: MVF were enzymatically isolated from the epididymal fat pads of transgenic green fluorescent protein (GFP)+ C57BL/6J donor mice. Subsequently, 5,000 MVF were suspended in 10 µL murine PRP as carrier and transferred into full-thickness skin wounds within dorsal skinfold chambers of C57BL/6J wild-type mice (PRP+MVF). Wound healing in comparison to empty wounds (control) and wounds filled with PRP alone was repeatedly analyzed throughout 14 days by means of stereomicroscopy, histology and immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS: Planimetric assessment of the wound size over time revealed a significantly accelerated and improved healing of PRP+MVF-treated wounds when compared to PRP-treated and empty control wounds. These wounds also exhibited a significantly higher density of blood and lymph vessels, which originated from the GFP+ MVF isolates and effectively promoted granulation tissue formation inside the skin defects.

INNOVATION: This study is the first to combine PRP and MVF for the improvement of wound healing.

CONCLUSION: The combination of PRP and MVF represents a promising approach for the future treatment of wounds that do not heal spontaneously due to poor wound healing conditions.