ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:The construction of tissue engineered skin needs a long time and high price, and the repair effects are poor. Moreover, the problems such as antigen elimination and disease propagation are not thoroughly solved. How to solve the tough problem of wound surface repair in patients lacking of autologous skin using current mature technology before the occurrence of ideal tissue engineered skin. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effects of autologous composite skin constructed around expanders on the repair of the wound surface. METHODS:A total of 10 rabbits were selected. Two globular silica gel expanders were embedded subcutaneously in the symmetrical sites on the back of rabbits. After the expanders were covered by fiber kystis, cellsuspension of primary cultured skin epithelial cells (experimental group) or physiological saline (control group) were infused into lacuna between the expander. Four weeks later, the expanders were obtained. Experimental group presented epithelization, i.e., autologous composite skin. The skin and some fiber members on the top of the expanders were resected around the encystations. The fiber kystis on the bottom and surrounding the expanders was left to form the wound surface covered by autologous composite skin. However, the wound surface was covered by non-epithelization fiber kystis in the control group. The healing of wound surface was observed until recovered. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:In the experimental group, the wound surface was ruddy and pure, with less secretion;the average healing time was (14.0±0.4) days;the microscopic appearance indicated that epithelial layer was thick and regular. In the control group, there was more secretion on wound surface;the average healing time was (27.0±0.7) days;the microscopic appearance indicated that epithelial layer was thin and irregular. These results suggested that the construction of autologous composite skin around the expanders could noticeably promote the healing of wound surface.