A microfabricated porous collagen-based scaffold as prototype for skin substitutes.
An important element of artificial skin is a tissue scaffold that allows for fast host regeneration. We present a microfabrication strategy, based on gelling collagen-based components inside a microfluidic device, that produces well-controlled pore sizes inside the scaffold. This strategy can produce finely patterned tissue scaffolds of clinically relevant dimensions suitable for surgical handling. Compared to porous collagen-based sponges produced by lyophilization, microfabricated tissue scaffolds preserve the fibrous structure and ligand density of natural occurring collagen. A fibroblast migration assay revealed fast cellular migration through the pores, which is desired for rapid tissue ingrowth. Finally, we also demonstrate a strategy to use this microfabrication technique to build anatomically accurate, multi-component skin substitutes in a cost-effective manner.
Chin
Curtis D
CD
Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, 351 Engineering Terrace, 1210 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY, 10027, USA.
Khanna
Krishn
K
Sia
Samuel K
SK
D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*; D008422:Materials Testing; D008904:Miniaturization; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016062:Porosity; D051381:Rats; D017768:Skin, Artificial; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D024042:Collagen Type I