Bio-artificial skin composed of gelatin and (1→3), (1→6)-β-glucan

Porous scaffolds composed of gelatin and beta-glucan were prepared using the freeze-drying method. The scaffold had an interconnected pore structure with average pore size of 90-150 mum. Results for the contact angle and cell attachment revealed that a high gelatin content was suitable for cellular attachment and distribution in two- or three-dimensional fibroblast cultures, because the gelatin had acidic residues, and arginine-glycine-aspartic acid groups. To prepare a stratified wound dressing to mimic the normal human skin, fibroblasts and keratinocyte cells were isolated from a child's foreskin, and were co-cultured in gelatin/beta-glucan scaffolds were cross-linked using 1-ethyl-(3-3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide hydrochloride. An in vivo study showed that after 1 week, the artificial dermis containing the fibroblasts enhanced the re-epithelialization of a full-thickness skin defect rather than the acellular scaffold. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.