title: Construction and in vitro testing of a cellulose dura mater graft.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks are a common complication after cranial and spinal surgery and are associated with increased morbidity. Despite continuous research in this field, this problem is far from solved. In this paper, we describe the construction and testing of a bacterial cellulose (BC) membrane as a new dural patch.
  
  
  METHODS
  The synthesis of BC was performed using Gluconacetobacter hansenii (ATCC 23769) and films were sterilized by autoclaving. The membranes were seeded with human dural fibroblasts. Growth, shape, and cell viability were assessed after 4 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Normally shaped fibroblasts were seen on the BC grafts; confocal microscopy showed cells inside the structure of the mesh. Both viable and nonviable cells were present. Cellular attachment and viability were confirmed by replating of the membranes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  BC membranes are used in clinical practice to improve skin healing. In the presence of water, they form an elastic, nontoxic, and resistant biogel that can accommodate collagen and growth factors within their structure, thus BC is a good candidate for dural graft construction.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Neurosurgery , University of Pittsburgh Medical Center , Pittsburgh , Pennsylvannia.|b Department of Neurosurgery , Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires , Buenos Aires City , Argentina.|c Institute of Basic Science and Experimental Medicine (ICBME) , Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires , Buenos Aires City , Argentina.
authors.forename: Ezequiel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Goldschmidt
authors.affiliation: d Nanobiomaterials Lab CINDEFI (Ciotechnology Applied Center) , CONICET-UNLP , La Plata , Argentina.
authors.forename: Maximiliano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cacicedo
authors.affiliation: c Institute of Basic Science and Experimental Medicine (ICBME) , Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires , Buenos Aires City , Argentina.
authors.forename: Sebastián
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kornfeld
authors.affiliation: c Institute of Basic Science and Experimental Medicine (ICBME) , Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires , Buenos Aires City , Argentina.
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Valinoti
authors.affiliation: c Institute of Basic Science and Experimental Medicine (ICBME) , Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires , Buenos Aires City , Argentina.
authors.forename: Marcelo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ielpi
authors.affiliation: b Department of Neurosurgery , Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires , Buenos Aires City , Argentina.
authors.forename: Pablo M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Ajler
authors.affiliation: b Department of Neurosurgery , Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires , Buenos Aires City , Argentina.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yampolsky
authors.affiliation: b Department of Neurosurgery , Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires , Buenos Aires City , Argentina.
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rasmussen
authors.affiliation: d Nanobiomaterials Lab CINDEFI (Ciotechnology Applied Center) , CONICET-UNLP , La Plata , Argentina.
authors.forename: Guillermo R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Castro
authors.affiliation: c Institute of Basic Science and Experimental Medicine (ICBME) , Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires , Buenos Aires City , Argentina.
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Argibay
mesh_terms: D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002470:Cell Survival; D002482:Cellulose / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D065634:Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak / Q000473:pathology; D004388:Dura Mater / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000528:radiation effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D013818:Thermogravimetry; D013997:Time Factors; D014746:Vimentin / Q000378:metabolism; D014965:X-Rays
chemical_list: D014746:Vimentin; D002482:Cellulose
keywords: Bacterial cellulose membrane; Cerebrospinal fluid leak; Dura mater patch