Three-dimensional bioengineered dermal derived matrix scaffold in combination with adipose-derived stem cells accelerate diabetic wound healing.

Due to the multifactorial nature of diabetic wounds, the most effective treatments require combinatorial approach. Herein we investigated whether engraftment of a bioengineered three-dimensional dermal derived matrix scaffold (DDMS) in combination with adipose-derived stem cells (ADSs), could accelerate diabetic wound healing. Diabetic animals were randomly planned into the control group, DDMS group, ADS group, and DDMS+ADS group. On days 7, 14, and 21, tissue samples were obtained for stereological, molecular, and tensiometrical assessments. We found that the wound contraction rate, the total volumes of new epidermis and dermis, the numerical densities of fibroblasts and blood vessels, collagen density, and tensiometrical parameters were meaningfully greater in the treated groups than in the control group, and these changes were more obvious in the DDMS+ADS ones (p < 0.05). Moreover, the expression of TGF-β, bFGF, and VEGF genes were considerably upregulated in treated groups compared to the control group and were greater in the DDMS+ADS group (p < 0.05). This is while expression of TNF-α and IL-1β, as well as the numerical densities of neutrophils and macrophages decreased more considerably in the DDMS+ADS group than in the other groups (p < 0.05). Overall, it was found that using both DDMS engraftment and ADS transplantation has more impact on diabetic wound healing.