Quantitative assessment of viscoelastic skin properties in a porcine model: Implications for regenerative therapies

Severe cutaneous and soft-tissue injuries remain a major clinical and socioeconomic challenge. Advances in resuscitation and intensive care have improved survival, but long-term outcomes depend on restoration of mechanically competent skin. Pigs are widely used as translational models for dermal regeneration, yet in vivo viscoelastic mapping of porcine skin is lacking. This study aimed to characterize regional and weight-dependent differences in porcine skin mechanics using cutometer-based suction measurements and to identify potentially useful conditions for preclinical testing of biomaterials and wound therapies. A total of 10 female domestic pigs (30-180 kg) contributed measurements across six weight categories. Cutometric parameters (R0, R5, R7, R8) were recorded at six standardized dorsal regions under general anesthesia, with repeated curves averaged for analysis. Given the limited sample size and irregular repeated-measures structure, basic descriptive statistics (medians, interquartile ranges) were used in this exploratory pilot study to assess relationships between body weight, anatomical region, laterality and viscoelastic behavior. Across all regions, the 70 kg group showed descriptively higher skin distensibility (R0) and recovery-related values (R8), while heavier pigs (100-120 kg) tended to exhibit higher elasticity- and resilience-related values (R5, R7). When the dorsum was divided into head, middle and rear sections, the head generally demonstrated greater distensibility and elasticity, whereas the rear showed better recovery. Left-right differences were modest, with a slight tendency towards higher distensibility and elasticity on the left side at lower weights. Overall, the 70-120 kg range and specific dorsal regions (particularly 1, 3, and 6) showed consistent descriptive viscoelastic patterns. These findings provide the first cutometric map of porcine skin and may serve as a biomechanical reference for informing experimental design and outcome assessment in regenerative and wound-healing research, while acknowledging the exploratory nature and limited sample size of the study.