title: Polymeric membranes modulate human keratinocyte differentiation in specific epidermal layers.
abstract: In vitro models of human bioengineered skin substitutes are an alternative to animal experimentation for testing the effects and toxicity of drugs, cosmetics and pollutants. For the first time specific and distinct human epidermal strata were engineered by using membranes and keratinocytes. To this purpose, biodegradable membranes of chitosan (CHT), polycaprolactone (PCL) and a polymeric blend of CHT-PCL were prepared by phase-inversion technique and characterized in order to evaluate their morphological, physico-chemical and mechanical properties. The capability of membranes to modulate keratinocyte differentiation inducing specific interactions in epidermal membrane systems was investigated. The overall results demonstrated that the membrane properties strongly influence the cell morpho-functional behaviour of human keratinocytes, modulating their terminal differentiation, with the creation of specific epidermal strata or a fully proliferative epidermal multilayer system. In particular, human keratinocytes adhered on CHT and CHT-PCL membranes, forming the structure of the epidermal top layers, such as the corneum and granulosum strata, characterized by withdrawal or reduction from the cell cycle and cell proliferation. On the PCL membrane, keratinocytes developed an epidermal basal lamina, with high proliferating cells that stratified and migrated over time to form a complete differentiating epidermal multilayer system.
authors.affiliation: Institute on Membrane Technology, National Research Council of Italy, ITM-CNR, c/o University of Calabria, via P. Bucci cubo 17/C, I-87036 Rende (CS), Italy. Electronic address: s.salerno@itm.cnr.it.
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Salerno
authors.affiliation: Institute on Membrane Technology, National Research Council of Italy, ITM-CNR, c/o University of Calabria, via P. Bucci cubo 17/C, I-87036 Rende (CS), Italy.
authors.forename: Sabrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Morelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, I-87036 Rende (CS), Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Giordano
authors.affiliation: Institute on Membrane Technology, National Research Council of Italy, ITM-CNR, c/o University of Calabria, via P. Bucci cubo 17/C, I-87036 Rende (CS), Italy.
authors.forename: Amalia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gordano
authors.affiliation: Institute on Membrane Technology, National Research Council of Italy, ITM-CNR, c/o University of Calabria, via P. Bucci cubo 17/C, I-87036 Rende (CS), Italy. Electronic address: l.debartolo@itm.cnr.it.
authors.forename: Loredana De
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Bartolo
mesh_terms: D015153:Blotting, Western; D002453:Cell Cycle; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry*; D000078404:Epidermal Cells; D006801:Humans; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry*; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D017768:Skin, Artificial
chemical_list: D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D011091:Polyesters; D011108:Polymers; C016240:polycaprolactone; D048271:Chitosan
keywords: Cell-material interactions; Differentiation; Epidermis; Keratinocytes; Membranes; Properties