Cytotoxicity and Epidermal Barrier Function Evaluation of Common Antiseptics for Clinical Use in an Artificial Autologous Skin Model
1
Cell Production and Tissue Engineering Unit, Virgen de las Nieves University Hospital, 18014 Granada, Spain
2
Biosanitary Institute of Granada (ibs. GRANADA), 18014 Granada, Spain
3
Andalusian Network of Design and Translation of Advanced Therapies, 41092 Sevilla, Spain
4
Dermatology Department, School of Medicine, University of Granada, 18014 Granada, Spain
5
Dermatology Department, Virgen de las Nieves University Hospital, 18014 Granada, Spain
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Academic Editor: Abbas Shafiee
J. Clin. Med. 2021, 10(4), 642; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm10040642
Received: 12 January 2021 / Revised: 29 January 2021 / Accepted: 2 February 2021 / Published: 8 February 2021
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Therapeutic Strategies in Wound Healing and Skin Regeneration)
Bioengineered artificial skin substitutes (BASS) are the main treatment used in addition to autografts when skin injuries involve a large body surface area. Antiseptic/antibiotic treatment is necessary to prevent infections in the BASS implant area. This study aims to evaluate the effect of antiseptics and antibiotics on cell viability, structural integrity, and epidermal barrier function in BASS based on hyaluronic acid during a 28 day follow-up period. Keratinocytes (KTs) and dermal fibroblasts (DFs) were isolated from skin samples and used to establish BASS. The following antibiotic/antiseptic treatment was applied every 48 h: colistin (1%), chlorhexidine digluconate (1%), sodium chloride (0.02%), and polyhexanide (0.1%). Cell viability (LIVE/DEAD® assay), structural integrity (histological evaluation), and epidermal barrier function (trans-epidermal water loss, (TEWL), Tewameter®) were also evaluated. Cell viability percentage of BASS treated with chlorhexidine digluconate was significantly lower (p ≤ 0.001) than the other antiseptics at day 28. Compared to other treatments, chlorhexidine digluconate and polyhexanide significantly affected the epithelium. No significant differences were found regarding epidermal barrier. These results may be useful for treatment protocols after implantation of BASS in patients and evaluating them in clinical practice. BASS represent a suitable model to test in vitro the impact of different treatments of other skin wounds.