title: Dermal-epidermal membrane systems by using human keratinocytes and mesenchymal stem cells isolated from dermis.
abstract: Dermal-epidermal membrane systems were developed by co-culturing human keratinocytes with Skin derived Stem Cells (SSCs), which are Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) isolated from dermis, on biodegradable membranes of chitosan (CHT), polycaprolactone (PCL) and a polymeric blend of CHT and PCL. The membranes display physico-chemical, morphological, mechanical and biodegradation properties that could satisfy and fulfil specific requirements in skin tissue engineering. CHT membrane exhibits an optimal biodegradation rate for acute wounds; CHT-PCL for the chronic ones. On the other hand, PCL membrane in spite of its very slow biodegradation rate exhibits mechanical properties similar to in vivo dermis, a lower hydrophilic character, and a surface roughness, all properties that make it able to sustain cell adhesion and proliferation for in vitro skin models. Both CHT-PCL and PCL membranes guided epidermal and dermal differentiation of SSCs as pointed out by the expression of cytokeratins and the deposition of the ECM protein fibronectin, respectively. In the dermal-epidermal membrane systems, a more suitable microenvironment for the SSCs differentiation was promoted by the interactions and the mutual interplay with keratinocytes. Being skin tissue-biased stem cells committed to their specific final dermal and/or epidermal cell differentiation, SSCs are more suitable for skin tissue engineering than other adult MSCs with different origin. For this reason, they represent a useful autologous cell source for engineering skin substitutes for both in vivo and in vitro applications.
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: Antonietta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Messina
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: Biomedical-Biotechnological Center, BBZ, University of Leipzig, D-04103 Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Augustinus
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bader
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; WCU Energy Engineering Department, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Drioli
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
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: De Bartolo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002469:Cell Separation; D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry*; D020405:Dermis / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D011091:Polyesters; C016240:polycaprolactone; D048271:Chitosan
keywords: Biomaterials; Chitosan; Dermal-epidermal substitutes; Membranes; Mesenchymal stem cells; Polycaprolactone; Skin tissue engineering