Engineered skin substitutes (ESSs) have been reported to close full-thickness burn wounds but are subject to loss from mechanical shear due to their deficiencies in tensile strength and elasticity. Hypothetically, if the mechanical properties of ESS matched those of native skin, losses due to shear or fracture could be reduced. To consider modifications of the composition of ESS to improve homology with native skin, biomechanical analyses of the current composition of ESS were performed. ESSs consist of a degradable biopolymer scaffold of type I collagen and chondroitin-sulfate (CGS) that is populated sequentially with cultured human dermal fibroblasts (hF) and epidermal keratinocytes (hK). In the current study, the hydrated biopolymer scaffold (CGS), the scaffold populated with hF dermal skin substitute (DSS), or the complete ESS were evaluated mechanically for linear stiffness (N/mm), ultimate tensile load at failure (N), maximum extension at failure (mm), and energy absorbed up to the point of failure (N-mm). These biomechanical end points were also used to evaluate ESS at six weeks after grafting to full-thickness skin wounds in athymic mice and compared to murine autograft or excised murine skin. The data showed statistically significant differences (p <0.05) between ESS in vitro and after grafting for all four structural properties. Grafted ESS differed statistically from murine autograft with respect to maximum extension at failure, and from intact murine skin with respect to linear stiffness and maximum extension. These results demonstrate rapid changes in mechanical properties of ESS after grafting that are comparable to murine autograft. These values provide instruction for improvement of the biomechanical properties of ESS in vitro that may reduce clinical morbidity from graft loss.
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Research-Article
Development of the Mechanical Properties of Engineered Skin Substitutes After Grafting to Full-Thickness Wounds
Edward A. Sander,
Edward A. Sander
1
Department of Biomedical Engineering,
University of Iowa
,Iowa City, IA 52242
;Department of Surgery,
University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
,Cincinnati, OH 45267
;Research Department
Shriners Hospital for Children, Cincinnati,
e-mail: edward-sander@uiowa.edu
Shriners Hospital for Children, Cincinnati,
Cincinnati, OH 45267
e-mail: edward-sander@uiowa.edu
1Corresponding author.
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Kaari A. Lynch,
Kaari A. Lynch
Department of Surgery
University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
Cincinnati, OH 45267
;Research Department
Shriners Hospital for Children, Cincinnati,
Shriners Hospital for Children, Cincinnati,
Cincinnati, OH 45267
Search for other works by this author on:
Steven T. Boyce
Steven T. Boyce
Department of Surgery,
Cincinnati,
University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
Cincinnati,
OH 45267
;Research Department
Shriners Hospital for Children, Cincinnati,
Shriners Hospital for Children, Cincinnati,
Cincinnati, OH 45267
Search for other works by this author on:
Edward A. Sander
Department of Biomedical Engineering,
University of Iowa
,Iowa City, IA 52242
;Department of Surgery,
University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
,Cincinnati, OH 45267
;Research Department
Shriners Hospital for Children, Cincinnati,
e-mail: edward-sander@uiowa.edu
Shriners Hospital for Children, Cincinnati,
Cincinnati, OH 45267
e-mail: edward-sander@uiowa.edu
Kaari A. Lynch
Department of Surgery
University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
Cincinnati, OH 45267
;Research Department
Shriners Hospital for Children, Cincinnati,
Shriners Hospital for Children, Cincinnati,
Cincinnati, OH 45267
Steven T. Boyce
Department of Surgery,
Cincinnati,
University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
Cincinnati,
OH 45267
;Research Department
Shriners Hospital for Children, Cincinnati,
Shriners Hospital for Children, Cincinnati,
Cincinnati, OH 45267
1Corresponding author.
Contributed by the Bioengineering Division of ASME for publication in the Journal of Biomechanical Engineering. Manuscript received October 15, 2013; final manuscript received December 12, 2013; accepted manuscript posted April 10, 2014; published online April 10, 2014. Assoc. Editor: David Corr.
J Biomech Eng. May 2014, 136(5): 051008 (7 pages)
Published Online: April 10, 2014
Article history
Received:
October 15, 2013
Revision Received:
December 12, 2013
Accepted:
April 10, 2014
Citation
Sander, E. A., Lynch, K. A., and Boyce, S. T. (April 10, 2014). "Development of the Mechanical Properties of Engineered Skin Substitutes After Grafting to Full-Thickness Wounds." ASME. J Biomech Eng. May 2014; 136(5): 051008. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4026290
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