[An experimental study on the repair of full skin loss of rabbits with composite chitosan artificial skin].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the practicability of repair of full skin loss of rabbits with composite chitosan artificial skin.


METHODS
Dermal substitute was prepared aseptically by mixing fibroblasts with composite dermal matrix gel. Keratinocytes were then seeded on the substitute and submersion - cultured thereafter for 1 week in keratinocyte culture medium. The composite was further cultured for 1 approximately 2 weeks on the surface of the culture liquid to form artificial skin. The composite chitosan artificial skin was then grafted onto the full skin loss wound of rabbits. Histological changes were undertaken periodically by tissue sampling from the grafted wound. The systemic reaction of rabbits to the artificial skin was observed.


RESULTS
All the grafted wounds healed very well without any suppuration, bleeding or infection under the grafted skin. No obvious immune rejection was seen. The artificial skin could cover the wounds for a long time with good elasticity and easy to be manipulation.


CONCLUSIONS
The composite chitosan artificial skin could be an optimal biological dressing with good histocompatibility and easy to be manipulation.
Lu
Yuangang
Y
Department of Dermatology, Daping Hospital, The Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400042, P.R. China.
Wu
Jinjin
J
Zhu
Tangyou
T
Hu
Lang
L
He
Ping
P
Li
Wenwei
W
D000818:Animals; D002056:Burns / Q000601:surgery; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002686:Chitin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism*; D048271:Chitosan; D062109:Dermatologic Surgical Procedures; D006801:Humans; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D011817:Rabbits; D012867:Skin / Q000293:injuries; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D017768:Skin, Artificial; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous; D014945:Wound Healing
D002686:Chitin; D048271:Chitosan