Current Modalities in Soft-Tissue Reconstruction and Vascularized Adipose Engineering

Soft-tissue loss resulting from trauma or oncologic resection is a significant problem worldwide. Surgical reconstruction using adipose tissue has long been the gold-standard solution. However, these surgeries are often highly morbid, not always feasible in patients with insufficient adipose, and ca...

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Main Authors: Jessica C. El-Mallah, Connie Wen, Olivia Waldron, Neekita R. Jikaria, Mohammad Hossein Asgardoon, Kevin Schlidt, Dana Goldenberg, Summer Horchler, Mary E. Landmesser, Ji Ho Park, Urara Hasegawa, Yong Wang, Dino J. Ravnic
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Biomolecules
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/15/6/780
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author Jessica C. El-Mallah
Connie Wen
Olivia Waldron
Neekita R. Jikaria
Mohammad Hossein Asgardoon
Kevin Schlidt
Dana Goldenberg
Summer Horchler
Mary E. Landmesser
Ji Ho Park
Urara Hasegawa
Yong Wang
Dino J. Ravnic
author_facet Jessica C. El-Mallah
Connie Wen
Olivia Waldron
Neekita R. Jikaria
Mohammad Hossein Asgardoon
Kevin Schlidt
Dana Goldenberg
Summer Horchler
Mary E. Landmesser
Ji Ho Park
Urara Hasegawa
Yong Wang
Dino J. Ravnic
author_sort Jessica C. El-Mallah
collection DOAJ
description Soft-tissue loss resulting from trauma or oncologic resection is a significant problem worldwide. Surgical reconstruction using adipose tissue has long been the gold-standard solution. However, these surgeries are often highly morbid, not always feasible in patients with insufficient adipose, and can have unpredictable results. Engineered soft-tissue replacements present a promising alternative. Many cell types, such as adipose-derived stem cells, have been recognized as a viable starting platform upon which new avenues in tissue engineering can be built. Additionally, efforts to develop scaffolds that can mimic the native extracellular matrix have been made with varying success. However, the suboptimal vascularization of engineered replacements is still a major limiting factor for achieving clinical translation. The current research explores the integration of all these techniques, including the use of growth factors, bioactive molecules, and advanced microsurgical techniques to enhance the vascularization process. This translational review covers the clinically standard methods of soft-tissue reconstruction and dives into emerging engineering techniques to develop vascularized adipose alternatives.
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spelling doaj-art-e8f3ed7959a24b05bf2076a9181ec64c2025-08-20T03:27:09ZengMDPI AGBiomolecules2218-273X2025-05-0115678010.3390/biom15060780Current Modalities in Soft-Tissue Reconstruction and Vascularized Adipose EngineeringJessica C. El-Mallah0Connie Wen1Olivia Waldron2Neekita R. Jikaria3Mohammad Hossein Asgardoon4Kevin Schlidt5Dana Goldenberg6Summer Horchler7Mary E. Landmesser8Ji Ho Park9Urara Hasegawa10Yong Wang11Dino J. Ravnic12Department of Surgery, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, 500 University Drive, Hershey, PA 17033, USADepartment of Biomedical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, 201 Old Main, University Park, PA 16802, USADepartment of Surgery, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, 500 University Drive, Hershey, PA 17033, USADepartment of Surgery, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, 500 University Drive, Hershey, PA 17033, USADepartment of Surgery, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, 500 University Drive, Hershey, PA 17033, USADepartment of Surgery, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, 500 University Drive, Hershey, PA 17033, USADepartment of Surgery, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, 500 University Drive, Hershey, PA 17033, USADepartment of Surgery, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, 500 University Drive, Hershey, PA 17033, USADepartment of Surgery, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, 500 University Drive, Hershey, PA 17033, USADepartment of Surgery, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, 500 University Drive, Hershey, PA 17033, USADepartment of Materials Science and Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, 201 Old Main, University Park, PA 16802, USADepartment of Biomedical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, 201 Old Main, University Park, PA 16802, USADepartment of Surgery, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, 500 University Drive, Hershey, PA 17033, USASoft-tissue loss resulting from trauma or oncologic resection is a significant problem worldwide. Surgical reconstruction using adipose tissue has long been the gold-standard solution. However, these surgeries are often highly morbid, not always feasible in patients with insufficient adipose, and can have unpredictable results. Engineered soft-tissue replacements present a promising alternative. Many cell types, such as adipose-derived stem cells, have been recognized as a viable starting platform upon which new avenues in tissue engineering can be built. Additionally, efforts to develop scaffolds that can mimic the native extracellular matrix have been made with varying success. However, the suboptimal vascularization of engineered replacements is still a major limiting factor for achieving clinical translation. The current research explores the integration of all these techniques, including the use of growth factors, bioactive molecules, and advanced microsurgical techniques to enhance the vascularization process. This translational review covers the clinically standard methods of soft-tissue reconstruction and dives into emerging engineering techniques to develop vascularized adipose alternatives.https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/15/6/780soft-tissue reconstructionadipose tissue engineeringbiocompatible scaffoldsvascularized tissue engineering
spellingShingle Jessica C. El-Mallah
Connie Wen
Olivia Waldron
Neekita R. Jikaria
Mohammad Hossein Asgardoon
Kevin Schlidt
Dana Goldenberg
Summer Horchler
Mary E. Landmesser
Ji Ho Park
Urara Hasegawa
Yong Wang
Dino J. Ravnic
Current Modalities in Soft-Tissue Reconstruction and Vascularized Adipose Engineering
Biomolecules
soft-tissue reconstruction
adipose tissue engineering
biocompatible scaffolds
vascularized tissue engineering
title Current Modalities in Soft-Tissue Reconstruction and Vascularized Adipose Engineering
title_full Current Modalities in Soft-Tissue Reconstruction and Vascularized Adipose Engineering
title_fullStr Current Modalities in Soft-Tissue Reconstruction and Vascularized Adipose Engineering
title_full_unstemmed Current Modalities in Soft-Tissue Reconstruction and Vascularized Adipose Engineering
title_short Current Modalities in Soft-Tissue Reconstruction and Vascularized Adipose Engineering
title_sort current modalities in soft tissue reconstruction and vascularized adipose engineering
topic soft-tissue reconstruction
adipose tissue engineering
biocompatible scaffolds
vascularized tissue engineering
url https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/15/6/780
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