The use of PEGT/PBT as a dermal scaffold for skin tissue engineering

• Published in: Biomaterials Vol. 25; no. 15; pp. 2987 - 2996
• Main Authors: El Ghalbzouri, Abdoelwaheb, Lamme, Evert N, van Blitterswijk, Clemens, Koopman, Jaap, Ponec, Maria
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Ltd 01.07.2004
• Subjects: Basement membrane; Biocompatible Materials - chemistry; Cell Differentiation; Cell Division; Cell Size; Cells, Cultured; Coculture Techniques - methods; Dermal substitute; Extracellular Matrix Proteins - metabolism; Fibrin; Fibroblast; Fibroblasts - cytology; Fibroblasts - physiology; Humans; Keratin; Keratinocyte; Keratinocytes - cytology; Keratinocytes - physiology; Materials Testing; Polyesters - chemistry; Polyethylene Glycols - chemistry; Skin - cytology; Skin Physiological Phenomena; Skin tissue engineering; Skin, Artificial; Tissue Engineering - methods; Fibrin; Keratin; Dermal substitute; Keratinocyte; Skin tissue engineering; Fibroblast; Basement membrane
• ISSN: 0142-9612; 1878-5905
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2003.09.098

Human skin equivalents (HSEs) were engineered using biodegradable-segmented copolymer PEGT/PBT as a dermal scaffold. As control groups, fibroblast-populated de-epidermized dermis, collagen, fibrin and hybrid PEGT/PBT–collagen matrices were used. Two different approaches were used to generate full-thickness HSE. In the 1-step approach, keratinocytes were seeded onto the fibroblast-populated scaffolds and cultured at the air–liquid (A/L) interface. In the 2-step approach, fully differentiated epidermal sheets were transferred onto fibroblast-populated scaffolds and cultured at the A/L. In a 1-step procedure, keratinocytes migrated into the porous PEGT/PBT scaffold. This was prevented by incorporating fibroblast-populated collagen into the pores of the PEGT/PBT matrix or using the 2-step procedure. Under all experimental conditions, fully differentiated stratified epidermis and basement membrane was formed. Differences in K6, K16, K17, collagen type VII, laminin 5 and nidogen staining were observed. In HSE generated with PEGT/PBT, the expression of these keratins was higher, and the deposition of collagen type VII, laminin 5 and nidogen at the epidermal/matrix junction was retarded compared to control HSEs. Our results illustrate that the copolymer PEGT/PBT is a suitable scaffold for the 2-step procedure, whereas the incorporation of fibroblast-populated collagen or fibrin into the pores of the scaffold is required for the 1-step procedure.