Study of gelatin-containing artificial skin V: fabrication of gelatin scaffolds using a salt-leaching method.
Porous gelatin scaffolds were prepared using a salt-leaching method and these were compared to scaffolds fabricated using a freeze-drying method. The salt-leached gelatin scaffolds were easily formed into desired shapes with a uniformly distributed and interconnected pore structure with an average pore size of around 350 microm. The mechanical strength and the biodegradation rate of the scaffolds increased with the porosity, and were easily modulated by the addition of salt. After 1 week of in vitro culturing, the fibroblasts in salt-leached scaffolds were mainly attached on the surface of the pores in the scaffold, whereas cells seeded on freeze-dried scaffolds were widely distributed and aggregated on the top and the bottom of the scaffold. After 14 d of culturing, the fibroblasts showed a good affinity to, and proliferation on, the gelatin scaffolds without showing any signs of biodegradation. An in vivo study of cultured artificial dermal substitutes showed that an artificial dermis containing the fibroblasts enhanced the re-epithelialization of a full-thickness skin defect when compared to an acellular scaffold after 1 week.
Lee
Sang Bong
SB
School of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, Hanyang University, Haengdang-dong, Seungdong-ku, Seoul 133-791, Republic of Korea.
Kim
Yong Han
YH
Chong
Moo Sang
MS
Hong
Seung Hwa
SH
Lee
Young Moo
YM
D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D062109:Dermatologic Surgical Procedures; D004548:Elasticity; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology / Q000637:transplantation*; D005780:Gelatin / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008819:Mice, Nude; D012867:Skin / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000293:injuries; D017768:Skin, Artificial; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000737:chemistry*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D005780:Gelatin