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Updated: May 15, 2026
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Generation of Self-assembled Vascularized Human Skin Equivalents
Published on: February 12, 2021
Plant-derived human collagen scaffolds for skin tissue engineering
James J Willard1, Jason W Drexler, Amitava Das
1Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA.
Tissue Engineering. Part A
|January 10, 2013
Summary
Plant-derived human collagen offers a safer alternative for tissue engineering scaffolds, reducing hypersensitivity and disease transmission risks compared to animal sources. This novel material supports cell growth and skin development effectively.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Tissue Engineering
- Regenerative Medicine
Background:
- Traditional tissue engineering scaffolds often use animal-derived collagen, posing risks of hypersensitivity and pathogen transmission.
- Human-derived collagen reduces hypersensitivity but retains disease transmission risks.
- Recombinant human proteins produced in plants offer a safer alternative, mitigating disease transmission and variability concerns.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the utility of plant-derived human collagen (PDHC) in engineered skin (ES) scaffolds.
- To compare PDHC scaffolds with traditional bovine collagen scaffolds in terms of fabrication, cellular response, and differentiation.
- To assess the immunogenicity of PDHC scaffolds.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of tissue engineering scaffolds using electrospinning and freeze-drying techniques with both PDHC and bovine collagen.
- Assessment of scaffold architecture, processing time, and material characteristics.
- Evaluation of primary human cell attachment, proliferation, and differentiation on the scaffolds.
- Measurement of Interleukin-1 beta production by macrophages exposed to scaffolds.
Main Results:
- PDHC and bovine collagen were successfully fabricated into electrospun and freeze-dried scaffolds with similar architectures.
- PDHC scaffolds exhibited significantly lower processing times compared to bovine collagen scaffolds.
- PDHC scaffolds supported equivalent or superior human cell attachment and proliferation.
- PDHC scaffolds demonstrated significantly lower Interleukin-1 beta production by macrophages, indicating reduced inflammatory response.
- Both PDHC and bovine collagen scaffolds promoted proper maturation and differentiation of engineered skin.
Conclusions:
- Plant-derived human collagen is a viable and promising raw material for tissue engineering scaffolds.
- PDHC offers a safer alternative to animal-derived collagen, with reduced risks of allergic response and disease transmission.
- PDHC scaffolds support cellular functions critical for engineered skin development and may offer immunomodulatory benefits.
