Study of gelatin-containing artificial skin V: fabrication of gelatin scaffolds using a salt-leaching method

• Published in: Biomaterials 2005-05, Vol.26 (14), p.1961-1968
• Main Authors: Lee, Sang Bong, Kim, Yong Han, Chong, Moo Sang, Hong, Seung Hwa, Lee, Young Moo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Artificial skin; Biocompatible Materials - chemistry; Cells, Cultured; Dermatologic Surgical Procedures; Elasticity; Fibroblasts - cytology; Fibroblasts - physiology; Fibroblasts - transplantation; Gelatin; Gelatin - chemistry; Humans; Materials Testing; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Mice, Nude; Salt leaching; Scaffold; Skin - growth & development; Skin - injuries; Skin, Artificial; Sodium Chloride - chemistry; Treatment Outcome; Wound Healing - physiology
• ISSN: 0142-9612; 1878-5905
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2004.06.032

Porous gelatin scaffolds were prepared using a salt-leaching method and these were compared to scaffolds fabricated using a freeze-drying method. The salt-leached gelatin scaffolds were easily formed into desired shapes with a uniformly distributed and interconnected pore structure with an average pore size of around 350μm. The mechanical strength and the biodegradation rate of the scaffolds increased with the porosity, and were easily modulated by the addition of salt. After 1 week of in vitro culturing, the fibroblasts in salt-leached scaffolds were mainly attached on the surface of the pores in the scaffold, whereas cells seeded on freeze-dried scaffolds were widely distributed and aggregated on the top and the bottom of the scaffold. After 14d of culturing, the fibroblasts showed a good affinity to, and proliferation on, the gelatin scaffolds without showing any signs of biodegradation. An in vivo study of cultured artificial dermal substitutes showed that an artificial dermis containing the fibroblasts enhanced the re-epithelialization of a full-thickness skin defect when compared to an acellular scaffold after 1 week.