(LR-046) Tissue-Engineered Full-Thickness Artificial Skin Using Visible Light-Curable Gelatin with Autologous Dermal Fibroblasts and Epidermal Keratinocytes
Thursday, May 16, 2024
7:30 PM – 8:30 PM East Coast USA Time
Introduction: The pathophysiologic relationship between diabetes and impaired wound healing is complicated. Attenuated activities of cells with a critical role in wound healing contribute to the impairment of tissue restoration in diabetic ulcers. Our group developed visible light-curable gelatin for cell attachment for wound healing. Autologous fibroblasts and keratinocytesmay hold great promise for treating diabetic wounds. Recent advancements in technology have led to the attachment and fixation of fibroblasts and keratinocytes for application on the diabetic foot wound. The purpose of this study was to introduce tissue-engineered full-thickness artificial skin using visible light-curable gelatin with autologous dermal fibroblasts and epidermal keratinocyte for treating wounds.
Methods: Cultured autologous fibroblasts were seeded on the visible light-curable gelatin and gelatinization was occurred. After fibroblast gelatinization, cultured autologous keratinocytes were seeded on the layer of fibroblasts to create full-thickness artificial skin. Except the PCL scaffold, only the inner part of the niche was elevated with forceps and applied to the wound bed of a swine after cleaning the wound. Finally, the wound was covered with secondary dressing.
Results: The wound reduction rate at 2 weeks post-treatment was 87% in the treatment group and 40% in the no treatment group. Complete wound healing was achieved after 2.2 weeks in the treatment group and 3.8 weeks in the control group. No serious adverse events related to the full-thickness artificial skin niche treatment were observed.
Discussion: Tissue-engineered full-thickness artificial skin using visible light-curable autologous dermal fibroblasts and epidermal keratinocytes may be an effective and safe for treatment of wounds. We look forward to larger pivotal in vivo studies to confirm these initially promising findings.