The regenerative potential of stromal vascular fraction delivery via hyaluronic acid in an ischemia-reperfusion injury model

Tissue engineering, in recent years, has shown interesting applications, particularly in regenerative medicine with the aim of improving the renewal and repair of damaged tissues. In this context, the use of stromal vascular fraction (SVF) from adipose tissue, combined with biomaterials has demonstrated remarkable potential in promoting tissue recovery. SVF, due to its multipotency and immunomodulatory properties, provides interesting evidences of high therapeutic potential. In addition, hyaluronic acid (HyA) has emerged as a versatile biomaterial renowned for its biodegradable, biocompatible, and bioactive properties. The aim of this study was to assess the regenerative potential of SVF with an HyA in a model of muscular ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. The first part of the study focused on in vitro and in vivo characterization of SVF obtained through mechanical fragmentation of adipose tissue and its with HyA. Subsequently, the regenerative potential of SVF combined with HyA was assessed in a model of skeletal muscle I/R injury. Multiparametric MRI evaluations, motor function tests, quantitative analyses, and immunohistochemical examinations demonstrated that the SVF combined with HyA treatment induced significant improvements in the experimental model. In particular, we observed a reduction of edema, a positive impact on motor function impairment, and myofibril organization compared to individual SVF or HyA treatments. Overall, the results showed that the synergistic effect of SVF and HyA could represent an efficient treatment for skeletal muscle ischemia-reperfusion injury with high translational potential for future clinical studies.