In vitro skin expansion: Wound healing assessment
Abstract
For treatments requiring split‐thickness skin grafts, it is preferable to mesh the grafts. This reduces the amount of excised skin and covers more wound area. The mesh technique, however, destroys surface continuity, which results in scarring. Strain‐based bioreactors, on the other hand, have successfully expanded split‐thickness skin grafts in vitro within a 7‐day period, increasing graft coverage. After in vitro expansion, the expanded skin grafts were tested in a porcine full‐thickness excisional wound model. Expanded graft take rate was 100%. Volumetric, histologic, and mechanical assessments indicated that expanded grafts were comparable to unexpanded grafts (positive control). While there was considerable variation in expansion (31% to −3.1%), this technique has the potential to enhance the coverage area of skin grafts while reducing or eliminating scarring.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- May 01, 2017
- Source ID
- 10.1111/wrr.12550
Entities
People
- Anthony Atala
- Han Su Kim
- Jae Sung Lee
- James H. Kaan
- James J Yoo
- John D. Jackson
- Lindsey E. Shapiro
- Peter M. Prim
- Sang Jin Lee
Organizations
- Armed Forces Institute of Regenerative Medicine
- Chung-Ang University
- Ewha Womans University
- North Carolina State University
- Wake Forest School of Medicine