Recent Advances in Skin Repair and Regeneration

A special issue of Bioengineering (ISSN 2306-5354). This special issue belongs to the section "Regenerative Engineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2023) | Viewed by 9723

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Laboratory of Biological Chemistry, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
Interests: cell culture; western blot analysis; PCR; cell signaling; molecular cell biology; SDS-PAGE; RNA isolation; cell line culture; immunohistochemistry; immunofluorescence

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Guest Editor
Laboratoire de Biologie Tissulaire et Ingénierie Thérapeutique, UMR 5305, CNRS-Université Lyon 1, SFR BioSciences Gerland-Lyon Sud, 7 Passage du Vercors, 69367 Lyon, France
Interests: cell adhesion; cell migration; cellular imaging; wound healing; epidermal regeneration; keratinocyte; extracellular matrix; basement membrane; integrin; syndecan

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Defects in wound healing after injuries or diseases related to impaired skin tissue repair, such as diabetes, aging, cancer, etc., constitute a major public health concern. Despite the progress in the field of skin biology and regeneration, we still need to better understand the mechanisms that regulate skin tissue repair to provide more adequate therapeutic options. Currently, there is huge demand for the development of reconstructed skin equivalents to serve either as grafts to restore skin barrier function after injury and to facilitate wound healing or as in vitro skin models for the study of skin mechanobiology, dysfunctional skin mechanobiology leading to disease and abnormal wound healing, toxicity and pharmaco-cosmetics testing.

The aim of this Special Issue is to collect important contributions and potential breakthroughs in regenerative research and technologies for the development of in vitro skin models, skin disease simulation and the validation of pharmaceuticals/cosmetics.

Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

  • Stem cells
  • Tissue engineering
  • Organ-on-a-chip
  • 3D printing
  • Biomaterials
  • Mechanobiology

Dr. Anna Michopoulou
Dr. Patricia Rousselle
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • skin model
  • disease simulation
  • biomaterials
  • skin substitutes

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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11 pages, 7413 KiB  
Article
Managing Vascular Pedicle Exposure in Free Tissue Transfer Using a Reprocessed Micronized Dermal Substitute in Lower Extremity Reconstructions
by Daheui Kim, Jun Hyeok Lee, Min Suk Park, Ma Rhip Ahn, Daiwon Jun and Jung Ho Lee
Bioengineering 2024, 11(3), 241; https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering11030241 - 28 Feb 2024
Viewed by 1040
Abstract
Lower extremity reconstruction is challenging because of its intricate anatomy and dynamic biomechanics. Although microsurgical free tissue transfer offers pivotal solutions to limited local tissue availability, vascular pedicle exposure after free tissue transfer is common. We evaluated a novel method of managing pedicle [...] Read more.
Lower extremity reconstruction is challenging because of its intricate anatomy and dynamic biomechanics. Although microsurgical free tissue transfer offers pivotal solutions to limited local tissue availability, vascular pedicle exposure after free tissue transfer is common. We evaluated a novel method of managing pedicle exposure after free tissue transfer using a reprocessed micronized dermal substitute. Ten patients who underwent lower-extremity reconstruction using free tissue transfer and micronized dermal substitute between January and December 2023 were retrospectively reviewed. When native tissue could not be closed over the pedicle, reprocessed micronized artificial dermal matrix (rmADM) was cut and stacked to protect and stabilize it. Epithelialization was achieved by secondary skin grafting or healing by secondary intention. Flap dimensions, recipient artery and vein, ADM size, time required for granulation tissue maturation and complete epithelialization, and flap outcomes were analyzed. The mean age was 55.80 ± 20.70 years, and six patients (60%) were diabetic. The mean rmADM coverage area was 8.70 ± 8.41 cm2, and the average time required for complete epithelialization was 50.89 ± 14.21 days. Except for one total necrosis due to bypass graft failure, nine limbs were successfully salvaged. Application of rmADM offers numerous advantages, including vascular collapse prevention, moisture maintenance, granulation tissue growth promotion, and pedicle stabilization. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Skin Repair and Regeneration)
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14 pages, 5226 KiB  
Article
Exploring the Potential of Ultrasound Therapy to Reduce Skin Scars: An In Vitro Study Using a Multi-Well Device Based on Printable Piezoelectric Transducers
by Simone Riis Porsborg, Hubert Krzyslak, Malgorzata K. Pierchala, Vincent Trolé, Konstantin Astafiev, Rasmus Lou-Moeller and Cristian Pablo Pennisi
Bioengineering 2023, 10(5), 566; https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering10050566 - 9 May 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2889
Abstract
Excessive skin scarring affects over 100 million patients worldwide, with effects ranging from cosmetic to systemic problems, and an effective treatment is yet to be found. Ultrasound-based therapies have been used to treat a variety of skin disorders, but the exact mechanisms behind [...] Read more.
Excessive skin scarring affects over 100 million patients worldwide, with effects ranging from cosmetic to systemic problems, and an effective treatment is yet to be found. Ultrasound-based therapies have been used to treat a variety of skin disorders, but the exact mechanisms behind the observed effects are still unclear. The aim of this work was to demonstrate the potential of ultrasound for the treatment of abnormal scarring by developing a multi-well device based on printable piezoelectric material (PiezoPaint™). First, compatibility with cell cultures was evaluated using measurements of heat shock response and cell viability. Second, the multi-well device was used to treat human fibroblasts with ultrasound and quantify their proliferation, focal adhesions, and extracellular matrix (ECM) production. Ultrasound caused a significant reduction in fibroblast growth and ECM deposition without changes in cell viability or adhesion. The data suggest that these effects were mediated by nonthermal mechanisms. Interestingly, the overall results suggest that ultrasound treatment would a be beneficial therapy for scar reduction. In addition, it is expected that this device will be a useful tool for mapping the effects of ultrasound treatment on cultured cells. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Skin Repair and Regeneration)
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18 pages, 7132 KiB  
Article
Novel, Blended Polymeric Microspheres for the Controlled Release of Methotrexate: Characterization and In Vivo Antifibrotic Studies
by Layla Nabai, Aziz Ghahary and John Jackson
Bioengineering 2023, 10(3), 298; https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering10030298 - 27 Feb 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1730
Abstract
Low dose methotrexate (MTX) is known to effectively decrease type I collagen production in dermal fibroblasts, while increasing the matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) production in vitro. For in vivo use as an antifibrotic agent on wounds, a linear and extended controlled release formulation of [...] Read more.
Low dose methotrexate (MTX) is known to effectively decrease type I collagen production in dermal fibroblasts, while increasing the matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) production in vitro. For in vivo use as an antifibrotic agent on wounds, a linear and extended controlled release formulation of MTX is required. The objective of this study was to optimize the fabrication of MTX-loaded polymeric microspheres with such properties, and to test the efficacy for the prevention of fibrosis in vivo. Poly lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA), Poly (L-lactic acid) (PLLA) and the diblock copolymer, methoxypolyethylene glycol-block-poly (D, L-lactide) (MePEG-b-PDLLA), were used to fabricate microspheres, which were then characterized in terms of size, drug encapsulation efficiency, and in vitro release profiles. The optimized formulation (PLGA with diblock copolymer) showed high drug encapsulation efficiency (>80%), low burst release (~10%) and a gradual release of MTX. The amphipathic diblock copolymer is known to render the microsphere surface more biocompatible. In vivo, these microspheres were effective in reducing fibrotic tissue which was confirmed by quantitative measurement of type I collagen and α-smooth muscle actin expression, demonstrating that MTX can be efficiently encapsulated in PLGA microspheres to provide a delayed, gradual release in wound beds to reduce fibrosis in vivo. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Skin Repair and Regeneration)
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Review

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19 pages, 706 KiB  
Review
Stem Cell Therapies for Epidermolysis Bullosa Treatment
by Argyrw Niti, Georgios Koliakos and Anna Michopoulou
Bioengineering 2023, 10(4), 422; https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering10040422 - 27 Mar 2023
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3306
Abstract
Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) includes a group of rare skin diseases characterized by skin fragility with bullous formation in the skin, in response to minor mechanical injury, as well as varying degrees of involvement of the mucous membranes of the internal organs. EB is [...] Read more.
Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) includes a group of rare skin diseases characterized by skin fragility with bullous formation in the skin, in response to minor mechanical injury, as well as varying degrees of involvement of the mucous membranes of the internal organs. EB is classified into simplex, junctional, dystrophic and mixed. The impact of the disease on patients is both physical and psychological, with the result that their quality of life is constantly affected. Unfortunately, there are still no approved treatments available to confront the disease, and treatment focuses on improving the symptoms with topical treatments to avoid complications and other infections. Stem cells are undifferentiated cells capable of producing, maintaining and replacing terminally differentiated cells and tissues. Stem cells can be isolated from embryonic or adult tissues, including skin, but are also produced by genetic reprogramming of differentiated cells. Preclinical and clinical research has recently greatly improved stem cell therapy, making it a promising treatment option for various diseases in which current medical treatments fail to cure, prevent progression, or alleviate symptoms. So far, stem cells from different sources, mainly hematopoietic and mesenchymal, autologous or heterologous have been used for the treatment of the most severe forms of the disease each one of them with some beneficial effects. However, the mechanisms through which stem cells exert their beneficial role are still unknown or incompletely understood and most importantly further research is required to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of these treatments. The transplantation of skin grafts to patients produced by gene-corrected autologous epidermal stem cells has been proved to be rather successful for the treatment of skin lesions in the long term in a limited number of patients. Nevertheless, these treatments do not address the internal epithelia-related complications manifested in patients with more severe forms. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Skin Repair and Regeneration)
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