170 | Seeding microvascular fragments and fibroblasts onto poly-L-lactic acid scaffolds for chronic wound healing

Francesco La Monica¹, Francesco Carfì Pavia², Simona Campora¹, Alessandra Lo Cicero¹, Gabriele Lo Buglio¹, Camilla Carbone², Veronica Schiera², Gundula Schulze-Tanzil³, Giulio Ghersi^1|4 | ¹STEBICEF Department, University of Palermo, Italy; ²Engineering Department, University of Palermo, Italy; ³Paracelsus Medical University PMU, Nuremberg, Germany; ⁴ABIEL Srl, Palermo, Italy.

Chronic wounds, commonly known as ulcers, represent a major clinical challenge due to impaired healing and the limitations of current therapies. The aim of this study was to develop a regenerative medicine strategy to accelerate wound healing using poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) scaffolds seeded with dermal fibroblasts (RDFs) and microvascular fragments (MVFs). Primary RDFs were isolated from rat skin and characterized by immunostaining before being seeded onto PLLA scaffolds fabricated via thermally induced phase separation (TIPS). In parallel, MVFs were isolated from adipose tissue, and their angiogenic potential was evaluated in both two-dimensional and three-dimensional cultures, including type I collagen matrices, prior to seeding onto the scaffolds. Fibroblasts and MVFs were subsequently co-cultured on PLLA scaffolds to assess cell viability, proliferation, morphology, and scaffold integration using Live/Dead assays, scanning electron microscopy, histology, and immunohistochemistry. Fibroblasts demonstrated efficient adhesion and proliferation over time and infiltrated the porous scaffold, whereas MVFs formed interconnected vessel-like networks indicative of robust angiogenic capacity. Co-culture of fibroblasts and MVFs revealed simultaneous growth and integration, suggesting synergistic effects on tissue regeneration and vascularization. Overall, PLLA scaffolds provided a suitable platform for the combined delivery of fibroblasts and microvascular fragments, representing a promising regenerative medicine strategy for treating chronic wounds.