Laboratory Research
Chronic wounds present a formidable challenge in healthcare due to their intricate and diverse healing environments, varying significantly among patients. Addressing this complexity, we explore the use of personalized scaffolds generated through extrusion-based 3D printing to revolutionize the treatment of complex chronic wounds. This innovative approach allows tailoring of the scaffolds to individual patient needs, which is particularly crucial in cases where diverse components are required in the bioink.
Methods:
In this investigation, an FDA-approved extrusion 3D printer was employed to fabricate scaffolds from human lipoaspirate, subsequently evaluated for their healing efficacy. Negative controls were established using empty defects, while a full-thickness defect model in rodents, featuring large-sized defects (2 cm x 2 cm), served as a challenge for complete healing, enabling us to discern differences compared to conventional advanced wound dressings, such as amniotic membranes, at 7 days. An additional time point of 21 days was introduced to assess complete wound healing and compare outcomes against controls.
Results: Histological analysis was employed to ascertain cell infiltration levels, granulation tissue formation, and re-epithelialization at each time point. Furthermore, immunohistochemistry was utilized to identify the presence of growth factors indicative of the healing process, along with residual human proteins within the tissue formed in the newly healed wound beds.
Discussion:
This study presents a promising avenue for advancing personalized wound care strategies, demonstrating the potential of extrusion-based 3D printing in tailoring scaffolds for enhanced and accelerated healing of chronic wounds.