023 Development of Tissue Engineering Skin Based on Acellular Dermal Matrix

Aim: In tissue engineering of the skin, the selection of a scaffold or a matrix in which a cultured cells grow is quite important. We have developed a tissue engineering skin composed of human keratinocytes and fibroblasts on an acellular allogenic dermal matrix (ADM), derived from cryopreserved human skin. Methods: ADM was prepared from cryopreserved split-thickness human skin by treating with Dispase and Triton X-100. The tissue engineering skin were produced by seeding human keratinocytes and fibroblasts on ADM. Several days after seeding, the tissue engineering skin was exposed to an air-liquid interface for another 7 days. Then, the histological structure of the skin and the production of growth factors by the skin were investigated. Results: The produced ADM was found to be completely acellular with remaining structure of the basement membrane components, such as type IV collagen and laminin. The developed tissue engineering skin had stratified keratinocytes on the surface of the ADM migrating fibroblasts in the dermal collagen structure, resembling to the normal skin appearance. It was found that several important growth factors in wound healing process, such as TGF-α, TGF-β and VEGF, were produced by the tissue engineering skin. Conclusions: It was suggested that ADM is suitable for a scaffold in tissue engineering of the skin.