Dermis-derived hydrogels support adipogenesis in vivo

Biomaterials that support adipogenesis could contribute to tissue engineering therapies to be used as alternatives to traditional methods of tissue reconstruction and regeneration. We have recently shown that hydrogels comprised of urea soluble proteins and polysaccharides extracted from adipose tissue promote preadipocyte differentiation in vitro and adipogenesis in vivo. However, it is not clear if these findings result from the adipose tissue source of the extracts or if the technique isolates adipogenic factors from other tissues. The present study investigates whether the application of this technique to dermis samples would provide adipogenic hydrogels. Extracts from dermis assembled into hydrogels by either temperature or pH mechanisms. Both formulations supported preadipocyte differentiation in vitro and vascularized adipose formation in vivo. The temperature formulation of the gels induced more rapid adipose formation than the pH formulation in vivo. Interestingly, in comparison to our previous studies the dermis derived hydrogels had comparable adipogenic properties to adipose gels in vivo but not in vitro. Further study of these materials could lead to insight of the role of specific matrix properties on adipogenesis.