Impact of Silver-Coated Dressing on Adipose-Derived Stem Cells and Fibroblasts in 2D and 3D Cultures

Background/Objectives: The effects of silver-coated dressing on wound healing, including cytotoxicity, are controversial due to the limited and incongruous results of in vitro versus in vivo research. Multiple factors intervene in wound healing processes and scarring, including pro/anti-inflammatory and pro/anti-fibrosis markers. Herein, to elucidate reported differences between in vitro and in vivo results, the effects of silver-coated dressing on 2D and 3D mono- and cocultures of fibroblasts and adipose-derived stem cells (ADSC) were investigated. Methods: Migration profiles in 2D and 3D assays, α-smooth muscle actin and proliferation marker Ki-67 expression, TGF-β1, TGF-β3, IL-6 and IL-10 levels and/or gene expression were assessed on four culture constructs. Results: In 2D systems at 24 h, silver-treated ADSC monocultures displayed better migration abilities compared to cocultures with high fibroblast ratio. In contrast, changes in the sprouting pattern between treated and untreated samples were non-significant in 3D constructs. TGFβ-1 levels decreased post-treatment, while TGFβ-3 increased, especially in 3D models. IL-6 gene expression was up-regulated following silver exposure in 3D models, mainly for stem cells in mono- and cocultures. Conclusions: Experiment data on 3D constructs suggest that silver-coated dressings do not significant impede wound healing, whereas cytotoxic effects were more pronounced in the 2D cultures. These inconsistencies, also noted in the literature, invite a methodological discussion of the 2D setup implications, recommending 3D constructs as a more appropriate evaluation standard where observable effects are closer to in vivo conditions and more relevant for transfer to clinical applications.