A novel strategy to engineer pre-vascularized 3-dimensional skin substitutes to achieve efficient, functional engraftment

Sci Rep. 2019 May 24;9(1):7797. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-44113-6.

Abstract

Autologous split-thickness skin grafts are the preferred treatment for excised burn wounds, but donor sites for autografting are often limited in patients with extensive burns. A number of alternative treatments are already in use to treat large burns and ulcers. Despite intense efforts to develop tissue-engineered skin, delayed or absent vascularization is one of the major reasons for tissue-engineered skin engraftment failure. To overcome these problems, we developed a scaffold-free 3-dimensional (3D) skin substitute containing vascular networks that combine dermal fibroblasts, endothelial cells, and epidermal keratinocytes based on our layer-by-layer cell coating technique. We transplanted the pre-vascularized 3D skin substitutes onto full-thickness skin defects on severe combined immunodeficiency mice to assess their integration with the host tissue and effects on wound healing. We used non-vascularized 3D skin substitutes as a control. Vessels containing red blood cells were evident in the non-vascularized control by day 14. However, blood perfusion of the human-derived vasculature could be detected within 7 days of grafting. Moreover, the pre-vascularized 3D skin substitutes had high graft survival and their epidermal layers were progressively replaced by mouse epidermis. We propose that a novel dermo-epidermal 3D skin substitute containing blood vessels can promote efficient reconstruction of full-thickness skin defects.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Line
  • Epidermal Cells / cytology
  • Fibroblasts / cytology*
  • Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells
  • Humans
  • Keratinocytes / cytology*
  • Male
  • Mice, SCID
  • Neovascularization, Physiologic
  • Skin / blood supply*
  • Skin / cytology
  • Skin / ultrastructure
  • Skin Transplantation
  • Tissue Engineering / methods*
  • Tissue Scaffolds / chemistry*