[Autologous tissue engineered skin for full thickness skin replacement].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the feasibility of regenerating or repairing damaged skin utilizing tissue engineering techniques.


METHODS
Yorkshire pigs were used in the study. A critical size defect of six, full thickness, 4 cm in diameter round wounds, which were marked on the paravertebral region of the animal were excised. The skin defects were randomly divided into three groups. Group I as control group received no cells or polymer. Group II as a second control group received pluronic hydrogel with no cells. Group III as the experimental group received a mixture of cells (keratinocytes and fibroblasts) and pluronic hydrogel. All specimens were harvested at 4 and 6 weeks in vivo, and underwent gross, histological, and transmission electron microscope evaluation.


RESULTS
Histologically, the skin in the experimental group was similar to normal skin with stratified epidermis overlying a moderately thick collageneous dermis. The interface of the tissue was apparently demarcated by epidermal ridges and dermal papillae. The control groups showed no skin formation except for granulation with infiltrating inflammatory cells in the wound. Transmission electron microscopy showed that the basal lamina of the experimental group was well developed and attached to the extracellular matrix.


CONCLUSIONS
This finding demonstrates the successful use of tissue engineered skin with Pluronic F-127 as a cell carrier.
Weng
Y L
YL
Department of Oral Medicine, Ninth People' s Hospital,Shanghai Second Medical University, Shanghai 200011,China.
Cao
Y L
YL
Cai
X
X
Ca
V
V