A Study on the Preparation of Acellular Lyophilized Porcine Dermal Matrix and Xenograft

ABSTRACT

Biological skin substitutes can be used in human skin defects. However, with the exception of autograft, they are not permanent due to incompatible tissue antigenicity. In our study, we planned to determine the fate of porcine skin, preliminarily processed, in order to eliminate tissue antigenicity after implantation onto nude athymic mice. Harvested porcine skin was meshed and put through epidermal separation, decellular, lyophilization and antiseptic processes. After rehydration, the processed skin is grafted to the skin defect made on the back of a nude mouse. Then thin autologous skin is overlaid and secured with suture(Experimental group). The control group is recovered by autologous skin graft only. Evaluation for wound contraction area(1st, 2nd, 4th, 8th week) and histological analysis(2nd, 4th, 8th week)were performed.The porcine dermis became completely incorporated into the wound without evidence of rejection. The reduction in wound contraction in the experimental group was significant in comparison with that of the control group. In conclusions, the decellularization and lyophilization process was found to have destroyed cells regulating immune re sponse while preserving the structural organization of extracellular matrices. We are trying to focus on establishment and management of the skin bank for the preparation, storage of the porcine xenograft in the future.