Methods and compositions to support transplanted tissue integration and inosculation with adipose stromal cells

Abstract

The present invention generally relates to methods, compositions and uses thereof for enhancing vascularization of a tissue or cell transplant for transplantation into a subject. In particular, one aspect of the present invention provides methods and compositions comprising the use of a population of stromal vascular fraction (SVF) cells to encapsulate or surround a tissue or cell transplant to enhance vascularization of the tissue or cell transplant. Another aspect of the present invention provides methods and compositions for enhancing vascularization of a tissue or cell transplant by combining a population of SVF cells with a tissue or cell transplant to form a transplant mixed with SVF cells. In some embodiments, the SVF cells can be on the surface or embedded within a three-dimensional matrix. In some embodiments, the SVF cells can be generically engineered to secrete therapeutic proteins or pro-angiogenic factors.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of enhancing vascularization of a tissue or cell transplant in a subject, comprising:
 a. encapsulating the tissue or the cell transplant with a population of cells comprising stromal vascular fraction (SVF) cells;   b. implanting the tissue or the cell transplant encapsulated with the population of cells comprising SVF cells into a subject, wherein the SVF cells enhance vascularization of the tissue or the cell transplant in the subject.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the SVF cells are present on the surface of, or embedded within, a biocompatible three-dimensional culture matrix. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the biocompatible three-dimensional culture matrix comprises additional cells. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the biocompatible three-dimensional culture matrix comprises microvessel fragments. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the microvessel fragments are obtained from adipose tissue. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the population of cells to be transplanted is present on the surface of, or embedded within, a biocompatible three-dimensional culture matrix. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the population of cells to be transplanted which is present on the surface of, or embedded within a biocompatible three-dimensional culture matrix further comprises microvessel fragments. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the biocompatible three-dimensional culture matrix does not comprise other types of cells or tissue fractions than SVF cells. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the SVF cells are contacted directly with the tissue or the cell transplant. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the SVF cells are obtained from the subject. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the SVF cells are obtained from a tissue or cell transplant donor. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the population of SVF cells and the tissue or cell transplant are from different species. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the SVF cells are human SVF cells. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tissue or cell transplant is mammalian. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein mammalian tissue or cell transplant is human. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the SVF cells are genetically engineered. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tissue or cell transplant is a genetically engineered tissue or cell transplant. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the SVF cells are attached to a tissue or cell transplant. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein attaching comprises suturing, stapling, gluing and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the population of cells comprises a substantially pure population of SVF cells. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the population of SVF cells are derived from adipose tissue. 
     
     
         22 . A method of enhancing vascularization of a tissue or cell transplant in a subject, comprising;
 a. combining a population of cells comprising stromal vascular fraction (SVF) cells with tissue or cell transplant to form a transplant mixed with SVF cells,   b. implanting the transplant mixed with SVF cells into the subject, wherein the SVF cells enhance the vascularization of the tissue or cell transplant in the subject.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the transplant mixed with SVF cells is a heterogeneous mixed population SVF cells with a tissue or cell transplant. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the transplant mixed with SVF cells is attached to the surface of, or embedded within a three-dimensional biocompatible matrix. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the transplant mixed with SVF cells further comprises additional populations of cells. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the transplant mixed with SVF cells does not comprise microvessel fragments. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the transplant mixed with SVF cells does not comprise other types of cells or tissue fractions other than SVF cells and cell transplant cells. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the transplant mixed with SVF cells present on the surface of, or embedded within a biocompatible three-dimensional culture matrix is combined with a tissue, organ or cell mass to be transplanted. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein combining the transplant mixed with SVF cells comprises attaching at least one transplant mixed with SVF cells to a tissue or cell transplant. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein attaching comprises suturing, stapling, gluing and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the population of cells comprises a substantially pure population of SVF cells. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the population of SVF cells are derived from adipose tissue. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the SVF cells are obtained from the subject. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the SVF cells are obtained from a tissue or cell transplant donor. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the population of SVF cells and the tissue or cell transplant are from different species. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the SVF cells are human SVF cells. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the tissue or cell transplant is mammalian. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein mammalian tissue or cell transplant is human. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the SVF cells are genetically engineered. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the tissue or cell transplant is a genetically engineered tissue or cell transplant.