Speaker
Description
Burn injuries and related wound infections are the leading cause for >150.000 deaths worldwide each year. Skin defects caused by burns or infection may necessitate grafting to augment wound healing. As early identification of relevant contaminants is essential to adequately treat wound/graft infection as a potential life-threatening complication, real-time monitoring of bacterial overgrowth will have extraordinary value in regenerative and septic surgery. Here we present Zantedeschia aethiopica spathe-derived extracellular matrix scaffolds as biological and non-immunogenic skin grafts for reconstructive surgery. By employing decellularization to retain the natural three-dimensional microstructure of the spathes matrisome, we have successfully preserved the physiological bioarchitecture of Zantedeschia which has long been acknowledged for its inherent anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties for wound healing and tissue reconstruction. As a result of decellularization, five biofabricated translucent scaffolds are free of cellular material and DNA content has significantly been reduced producing non-immunogenic grafts. By augmenting these scaffolds with anthocyanin infused rice-based hydrogel coatings, in all five biological replicates these scaffolds visualize spatiotemporal chromogenic changes to pH shifts caused by cellular/microbial overgrowth. In recellularization experiments employing human epidermal keratinocytes, we have shown biocompatibility of the engineered graft by adequate proliferation of reseeded cells visualized by histological imaging. These scaffolds of natural origin can be seamlessly stacked together by their hexagonal shape to address existing defects meeting individual needs while being readily available. By further providing the opportunity to supplement these coated scaffolds with bioagents and therapeutics, we intend to enable personalization of these stackable epidermal wound patches for surgical applications. We hereby present a naturally sourced, cost-effective, and sustainable alternatives to currently available therapeutic options with bioactive and smart material properties for enhanced wound healing.
74734136999
