[An experimental study on the construction of composite graft with epithelia and fibroblasts on collagen sponge]

Primarily cultured human epithelia and fibroblasts were inoculated on collagen sponge to construct composite skin substitute.

Epithelia and fibroblast asts from human foreskin were primarily cultured. Fibroblasts (1 x 10(5)/cm(2)) were inoculated on collagen sponge after digestion and cultured for 3 days prior to inoculation of epithelial cells (2 x 10(5)/cm(2)) to construct composite skin grafting substitute, and it was then grafted onto full skin loss (FSL) wounds of nude mice. Collagen sponge membrane lacking cell inoculation was used as control. The wound healing was evaluated by measuring the residual wound area. Tissue samples were harvested and examined by means of histology, immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy.

Epithelia and fibroblasts could be cultured in vitro on the carrier collagen sponge. After being grafted onto the wound, the epithelia and fibroblasts wound further proliferated and differentiated. The composite skin could stick to the carrier fairly well. There exhibited less epidermal scar proliferation and satisfactory contour of the neoskin. Integral basal membrane of the skin could be identified by immunohistochemical staining. The quality and speed of wound healing with the composite skin substitute were superior to that with collagen sponge only.

The composite grafts constructed by epithelia and fibroblasts on collagen sponge could be a potential neotype composite skin substitute for the repair of FSL.