Skin wound repair: Results of a pre-clinical study to evaluate electropsun collagen-elastin-PCL scaffolds as dermal substitutes

Cassandra Chong; Yiwei Wang; Ali Fathi; Roxanne Parungao; Peter K Maitz; Zhe Li

doi:10.1016/j.burns.2019.04.014

Skin wound repair: Results of a pre-clinical study to evaluate electropsun collagen-elastin-PCL scaffolds as dermal substitutes

Burns. 2019 Nov;45(7):1639-1648. doi: 10.1016/j.burns.2019.04.014. Epub 2019 May 7.

Authors

Cassandra Chong¹, Yiwei Wang², Ali Fathi³, Roxanne Parungao¹, Peter K Maitz⁴, Zhe Li⁵

Affiliations

¹ Burns Research Group, ANZAC Research Institute, Concord Hospital, University of Sydney, Concord West, NSW 2139, Australia.
² Burns Research Group, ANZAC Research Institute, Concord Hospital, University of Sydney, Concord West, NSW 2139, Australia; Disciplines of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
³ School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
⁴ Burns Research Group, ANZAC Research Institute, Concord Hospital, University of Sydney, Concord West, NSW 2139, Australia; Disciplines of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia; Burns and Reconstructive Surgery Unit, Concord Hospital, Concord, NSW 2139, Australia.
⁵ Burns Research Group, ANZAC Research Institute, Concord Hospital, University of Sydney, Concord West, NSW 2139, Australia; Disciplines of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia; Burns and Reconstructive Surgery Unit, Concord Hospital, Concord, NSW 2139, Australia. Electronic address: Zhe.Li@health.nsw.gov.au.

PMID: 31076208
DOI: 10.1016/j.burns.2019.04.014

Abstract

The gold standard treatment for severe burn injuries is autologous skin grafting and the use of commercial dermal substitutes. However, resulting skin tissue following treatment usually displays abnormal morphology and functionality including scarring, skin contracture due to the poor elasticity and strength of existing dermal substitutes. In this study, we have developed a triple-polymer scaffold made of collagen-elastin-polycaprolactone (CEP) composite, aiming to enhance the mechanical properties of the scaffold while retaining its biological properties in promoting cell attachment, proliferation and tissue regeneration. The inclusion of elastin was revealed to decrease the stiffness of the scaffold, while also decreasing hysteresis and increasing elasticity. In mice, electrospun collagen-elastin-PCL scaffolds promoted keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation, tissue integration and accelerated early-stage angiogenesis. Only a mild inflammatory response was observed in the first 2 weeks post-subcutaneous implantation. Our data indicates that the electrospun collagen-elastin-PCL scaffolds could potentially serve as a skin substitute to promote skin cell growth and tissue regeneration after severe burn injury.

Keywords: Burn injury; Collagen; Composite scaffold; Elastin; Electrospinning; PCL; Skin tissue engineering.

MeSH terms

Animals
Cell Proliferation
Collagen Type I
Collagen*
Elastin*
Fibroblasts / pathology*
Guided Tissue Regeneration
Humans
Keratinocytes / pathology*
Mice
Mice, Inbred BALB C
Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
Neovascularization, Physiologic
Polyesters*
Skin / pathology*
Skin, Artificial*
Tissue Scaffolds*
Wound Healing / physiology*

Substances

Collagen Type I
Polyesters
polycaprolactone
Collagen
Elastin