title: Oral mucosa model based on a collagen-elastin matrix.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The collagen-elastin matrix (Matriderm(®)) is used to treat deep and full-thickness burns and was recently described as a suitable scaffold for tissue engineering. The aim of the present study was to investigate the biocompatibility of Matriderm(®) for gingival use through creation of an oral mucosa model ex vivo.
  
  
  METHODS
  Gingival fibroblasts and keratinocytes were cultured. A dermal area on the base of the collagen-elastin matrix was repopulated with fibroblasts. After 14 days, keratinocytes were seeded on this dermal area to engineer a multilayered mucosa. Analysis of the architecture was performed using light and electron microscopy. Immunohistochemical detection of collagen IV and cytokeratin was carried out.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Based on this scaffold we generated a multilayered oral mucosa-like structure. Histological, immunohistochemical and electron microscopic analysis of the dermal/epidermal junction showed a typical basement membrane and hemidesmosomal structures. Neighboring keratinocytes formed desmosomes in the epidermal sections. Cytokeratin was detectable in all epidermal layers. These experiments revealed that the collagen-elastin matrix was highly biocompatible with gingival cells under ex vivo conditions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Employing tissue-engineering techniques with dermal and epidermal cells from the gingiva, a multilayered oral mucosa was generated and characterized with respect to biocompatibility for Matriderm(®). The results indicate that Matriderm(®) is suitable for the ex vivo growth of gingival tissue cells and is a useful scaffold with possible applications in periodontal therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, School of Dental Medicine at the Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany.
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Golinski
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gröger
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Herrmann
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bernd
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Meyle
mesh_terms: D001485:Basement Membrane; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D003094:Collagen; D003896:Desmosomes; D004549:Elastin; D005347:Fibroblasts; D005881:Gingiva / Q000166:cytology; D006801:Humans; D015603:Keratinocytes; D008422:Materials Testing; D008854:Microscopy, Electron / Q000379:methods; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D017768:Skin, Artificial; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; C532298:matriderm; D003094:Collagen; D004549:Elastin