Glycerolized Reticular Dermis as a New Human Acellular Dermal Matrix: An Exploratory Study

PLoS One. 2016 Feb 26;11(2):e0149124. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0149124. eCollection 2016.

Abstract

Human Acellular Dermal Matrices (HADM) are employed in various reconstructive surgery procedures as scaffolds for autologous tissue regeneration. The aim of this project was to develop a new type of HADM for clinical use, composed of glycerolized reticular dermis decellularized through incubation and tilting in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium (DMEM). This manufacturing method was compared with a decellularization procedure already described in the literature, based on the use of sodium hydroxide (NaOH), on samples from 28 donors. Cell viability was assessed using an MTT assay and microbiological monitoring was performed on all samples processed after each step. Two surgeons evaluated the biomechanical characteristics of grafts of increasing thickness. The effects of the different decellularization protocols were assessed by means of histological examination and immunohistochemistry, and residual DNA after decellularization was quantified using a real-time TaqMan MGB probe. Finally, we compared the results of DMEM based decellularization protocol on reticular dermis derived samples with the results of the same protocol applied on papillary dermis derived grafts. Our experimental results indicated that the use of glycerolized reticular dermis after 5 weeks of treatment with DMEM results in an HADM with good handling and biocompatibility properties.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acellular Dermis / metabolism*
  • Acellular Dermis / microbiology
  • Cell Survival
  • DNA / metabolism
  • Glycerol / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Skin Transplantation
  • Time Factors
  • Tissue Scaffolds*

Substances

  • DNA
  • Glycerol

Grants and funding

CC was supported by funds from the Compagnia di San Paolo, Turin, Italy, from Fondazione CRT, Turin, Italy, and from Piedmont Foundation of Studies and Research on Burns Simone TeichAlasia. AS was supported by the Ministry of Health, Ricerca Sanitaria Finalizzata (RF-2010-2310674) and by LILT – Lega Italiana per Lotta contro iTumori, local section of Turin (HealthResearch2014). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analyses, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.