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Cellularized Bilayer Pullulan-Gelatin Hydrogel for Skin Regeneration
Mathew N Nicholas1, Marc G Jeschke1, Saeid Amini-Nik1
1Department of Surgery, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Ross Tilley Burn Centre, University of Toronto , Toronto, Ontario, Canada .
Tissue Engineering. Part A
|April 14, 2016
Summary
A new pullulan-gelatin (PG-1) hydrogel promotes skin regeneration for burn and chronic wound healing. This inexpensive, cellularized skin substitute enhances cell viability and promotes new skin formation in vivo.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Regenerative Medicine
- Wound Healing
Background:
- Current skin substitutes are costly and show limited efficacy in highly inflammatory wounds.
- There is a need for advanced, cost-effective skin substitutes that promote adequate skin regeneration.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and evaluate a novel, inexpensive pullulan-gelatin (PG-1) hydrogel as a scaffold for skin substitutes.
- To assess the efficacy of cellularized PG-1 in promoting skin regeneration and wound healing in a preclinical model.
Main Methods:
- A novel pullulan-gelatin (PG-1) hydrogel was synthesized and characterized for mechanical properties and biodegradability.
- Human fibroblasts and keratinocytes were incorporated into PG-1 to create a cellularized bilayer skin substitute.
- The cellularized PG-1 was evaluated in vivo using a mouse excisional biopsy model with specialized dome inserts.
Main Results:
- PG-1 exhibited ideal pore size, elastic modulus, swelling, and biodegradability for skin substitute applications.
- In vitro assays confirmed excellent skin cell viability, proliferation, and differentiation within the PG-1 hydrogel.
- In vivo studies demonstrated that cellularized PG-1 significantly enhanced skin regeneration, increased angiogenesis, and reduced inflammation compared to controls.
Conclusions:
- The pullulan-gelatin (PG-1) hydrogel possesses optimal characteristics for skin substitute development.
- Cellularized PG-1 effectively promotes skin regeneration and may serve as a promising therapeutic agent for challenging wounds like burns and chronic ulcers.
