Evaluation of Immediate Nanofat Grafting on VEGF Expression in Acute Wounds in Male Albino Rats

Background: Scarring is one of the most complex outcomes of wound healing which usually replaces normal skin with fibrotic tissue. Scar modulation is a composite biological process involving inflammation, tissue remodeling, and collagen deposition elements. We aimed at this study to analyze the expression of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) in acute wounds and scar modulation following nanofat grafting on an animal model. Methods: This experimental study included 24 male Wistar albino rats. The wounds were divided into a group of nano-fat-treated wounds and a control group receiving saline injections (n=12 rats in each group). Nano fat was prepared by emulsifying harvested fat tissue, which was then injected into the incision wounds of the treatment group. Wound assessment and photographic documentation were made on days 15, 21, and 28 post-surgery. Histological and immunohistochemical evaluations were carried out to evaluate fibrosis and VEGF expression. Results: Nanofat-treated wounds demonstrated a more rapid and organized healing process compared to the control wounds. On day 21, the scars of nanofat-treated wounds were smoother and had a smaller area. In immunohistochemistry.The positive area for VEGF and the mean VEGF-positive area in the nanofat-treated group were significantly higher than the control group (118072 µm² ±59937, 4.300416% ± 2.136 vs 10302.3 µm² ±16565, and 0.3644% ± 0.583) (p=0.00044, 0.000025 respectively). Conclusion: In conclusion, nanofat grafting improved scar modulation, increased VEGF, and angiogenesis, whereas the quality of scarring increased and wound-healing time shortened. Detailed mechanisms and potential clinical applications of nanofat grafting in scar treatment require further research