title: Investigation of Dermis-derived hydrogels for wound healing applications.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Wound healing and skin tissue engineering are mediated, in part, by interactions between cells and the extracellular matrix (ECM). A subset of the ECM, basement membranes (BM), plays a vital role in regulating proper skin healing and function.
  
  
  METHODS
  ECM-rich, tissue-specific hydrogels were extracted and assembled from dermis samples. These hydrogels contain BM proteins vital to skin regeneration, including laminin β3, collagen IV, and collagen VII. The extracts could be assembled to form hydrogels by either temperature or pH mechanism, with the mechanical properties and structure varying with the mechanism of assembly. A wound healing model was developed to investigate the ability of these hydrogels to enhance healing with a single application in vivo.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The pH, but not temperature gels were easily applied to the wounds. There were no signs of increased inflammation due to the application of the hydrogels. The width of granulation tissue at the first week was reduced (p = 0.064) relative to controls with the application of hydrogel. There were no changes in wound closure rates or vessel density.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dermis-derived hydrogels contain BM proteins important for skin regeneration. They can be easily applied, but their poor mechanical strength and rapid degradation may hinder their biological effects.
authors.forename: Holger
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Engel
authors.forename: Shu-Wei
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Kao
authors.forename: Jeffery
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Larson
authors.forename: Shiri
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Uriel
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Eric M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Brey
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery; Center for Tissue Engineering, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taoyuan, Taiwan, .
authors.forename: Ming-Huei
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Cheng
mesh_terms: D001485:Basement Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism; D020405:Dermis / Q000502:physiology*; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism; D020100:Hydrogels; D023822:Tissue Engineering; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D020100:Hydrogels; D003094:Collagen