Pre-vascularized enhances therapeutic effects of human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell sheets in Buccal Mucosa wound

Lesions of the buccal mucosa impair normal oral function and are often accompanied by pain. While biomaterials has demonstrated potential in promoting wound healing, its efficacy may be limited by insufficient early vascularization. This study was conducted to investigate the oral mucosa repair efficacy and regenerative potential of human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell sheets (HCS) and pre-vascularized HCS (PHCS). A total of 105 rats were randomly assigned to one of three groups based on the type of graft applied to the wound bed: (1) control group: biomembranes alone, (2) HCS group: biomembranes combined with HCS, and (3) PHCS group: biomembranes combined with PHCS. HCS and PHCS were respectively combined with biomembranes and applied to full-thickness buccal mucosal wounds in rats. The wounds were observed at days 3, 5, 7, 10, and 13 post-operation and Hematoxylin and eosin staining and Masson’s Trichrome staining were conducted. Compared with the biomembrane-only control group, both HCS and PHCS treatments significantly reduced mucosal contraction and improved wound appearance. The PHCS group exhibited the least bleeding and necrosis, minimal inflammatory cell infiltration, and the highest level of early-stage revascularization. This led to the establishment of a robust microcirculation, supporting graft survival and tissue regeneration. Furthermore, PHCS grafts resulted in the thinnest epithelial layer, indicative of more favorable healing outcomes. The study suggest that the combination of biomembranes and PHCS implantation further improve regenerative outcomes by providing a richer source of angiogenic factors and preformed microvascular structures, therefore presents a promising therapeutic strategy for the regeneration of full-thickness buccal mucosal defects. Not applicable.