Artificial Dermis Composed of Gelatin, Hyaluronic Acid and (1\longrightarrow3),(1\longrightarrow6)--Glucan

Porous scaffolds composed of gelatin and polysaccharides such as hyaluronic acid and $\beta$-glucan were prepared by using the freeze-drying method after cross-linking with l-ethyl-(3-3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC). The scaffold had an inter-connected pore structure with the sufficient pore size for use as a support for the growth of fibroblasts. Results for the contact angle and cell attachment confirmed that high gelatin content in a mixture was suitable for cellular attachment and distribution in two- or three-dimensional fibroblast cultures. However, the addition of polysaccharides aroused the synergistic effects of morphologic and mechanical property of gelatin-based scaffolds. To prepare the artificial dermis for the wound dressing to mimic the normal human dermal skin, fibroblasts were isolated from a child's foreskin, and cultured in gelatin-based scaffolds. An in vivo study showed that the artificial dermis containing the fibroblasts enhanced the wound healing rate and re-epithelialization of a full-thickness skin defect rather than the acellular scaffold after one week.