Growth of cultured human keratinocytes on fibrous dermal collagen: a scanning electron microscope study

The attachment and growth of cultured human keratinocytes on glutaraldehyde-treated human dermal collagen was studied using the scanning electron microscope. At increasing time intervals after seeding the cells were observed to flatten and spread extensively, and to undergo changes in surface morphology from rough and filamentous to smooth. Confluent cell sheets could be formed over the surface of the collagen after a few days followed by multilayering to a columnar conformation as differentiation proceeded. Attachment of the cells to the collagen surface could be blocked by the presence of fibrin within the collagen matrix. This system may form the basis of a model for the study of the requirements for the attachment of keratinocytes to burn and other wounds.