Enhanced dermal regeneration using modified collagen scaffolds: experimental porcine study.

Ongoing research has achieved much progress towards the development of new artificial skin substitute products. However, effective implant material for correcting full-thickness defects (such as those arising from extensive burns, tumor resection, hereditary or congenital defects and chronic wounds) has not yet become available. Following split-thickness skin grafting, contraction and scar formation are unavoidable. These phenomena are believed to be due to poor dermis regeneration. Collagen dermis substitute has been developed for the treatment of deep, poorly vascularized tissue defects. However, their application is problematic, because scaffolds of this kind fail to adequately induce the neoangiogenesis needed for regeneration. To overcome these shortcomings a number of matrices have been chemically modified. Furthermore, these matrices first require implantation and follow-up by skin grafting 3 to 5 weeks later. In this article we describe new materials made of modified collagen which enhance dermal regeneration and neoangiogenesis. The procedure was applied in successfully dealing with full-thickness defects in pigs, with subsequent split-thickness skin grafting being performed immediately afterwards. Histological findings revealed that the neodermis obtained resembles a normal dermis structure. These scaffolds have the potential of serving as an off-the-shelf skin replacement in the reconstruction of deep wounds, thus supporting wound-healing processes.