Objective: To construct a tissue engineering skin containing capillary-like network by employing tissue engineering method.
Methods: The numan umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVECs) were isolated from a new-born umbilical cord. The keratinocytes and dermal fibroblasts were isolated from a new-born foreskin biopsy. After the collagen gel was prepared, the fibroblasts and the vascular endothelial cells were added in a ratio of 1 to 1 to construct a skin substitute containing capillary-like network. The skin substitute was observed by HE staining and immuno histochemical staining (VIII factor). The reconstructed skin containing capillary-like network was used to repair the nude mice skin defects in the experimental group. The tissue engineering skin containing no vascular endothelial cells was used in control group.
Results: Capillary-like network could be observed in the dermal layer of the tissue engineering skin, and the nude mice skin defects were repaired by the skin substitutes in the experimental group. In control group, no capillary-like network was found.
Conclusion: The tissue engineering skin containing capillary-like network is successfully constructed in vitro and can be used to repair the full-thickness skin defects.