title: Combination of a new composite biocampatible skin graft on the neodermis of artificial skin in an animal model.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There have been very limited and inconsistent attempts at combining the cultured epidermal autograft (CEA) with the neodermis of artificial skin (Integra). The reasons for this remain unknown. The basement membrane proteins of conventional CEA sheets are easily damaged by the dispase treatment during the harvesting of the CEA from the culture flask. The damage of the basement membrane proteins may affect the anchorage of CEA onto the neodermis of Integra. A new Composite Biocompatible Skin Graft (CBSG) was recently developed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Composite biocompatible skin graft consists of autologous keratinocytes cultivated on a pliable hyaluronate-derived membrane (Laserskin)which has been pre-seeded with allogenic dermal fibroblasts. Basement membrane proteins of CBSG are protected from the dispase treatment because the keratinocytes are directly seeded onto Laserskin. The engraftment of CBSG was evaluated on 20 wounds of 10 rats. Integrawas grafted on two freshly excised full-thickness wounds (3cm in diameter) in the dorsum of each animal. A polypropylene ring was applied to each wound to prevent the migration of epithelium from the edges. Composite Biocompatible Skin Graft was used to cover the neodermis of Integra after the silicone membrane was removed 14-21 days postgrafting.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fourteen (70%) of 20 skin biopsies taken at day 21 from the centre of the grafted wounds revealed regenerated epithelium.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A feasible delivery system of cultured keratinocytes onto theneodermis of Integra is demonstrated in this animal -experiment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong. pklam@cuhk.edu.hk
authors.forename: Ping K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.forename: Eric S Y
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Choong T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Liew
authors.forename: ChiH
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Yen
authors.forename: Walter W K
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: King
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D021522:Bioartificial Organs; D000078404:Epidermal Cells; D004848:Epithelium / Q000473:pathology; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000166:cytology; D023421:Models, Animal; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012867:Skin / Q000166:cytology*; D016038:Skin Transplantation; D017768:Skin, Artificial; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous