Differential capability of clinically employed dermal regeneration scaffolds to support vascularization for tissue bioengineering

The loss of skin integrity has always represented a major challenge for clinicians dealing with dermal defects, such as ulcers (diabetic, vascular and chronic), postoncologic resections (i.e., radical vulvectomy) or dermatologic disorders. The introduction in recent decades of acellular dermal matrices (ADMs) supporting the repair and restoration of skin functionality represented a significant step toward achieving clean wound repair before performing skin grafts. Hard-to-heal ulcers generally depend on local ischemia and nonadequate vascularization. In this context, one possible innovative approach could be the prevascularization of matrices with vessel-forming cells (inosculation). This paper presents a comparative analysis of the most widely used dermal templates, i.e., Integra® Bilayer Matrix Wound Dressing, PELNAC®, PriMatrix® Dermal Repair Scaffold, Endoform® Natural Dermal Template, and Myriad Matrix®, testing their ability to be colonized by human adult dermal microvascular endothelial cells (ADMECs) and to induce and support angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo. By in vitro studies, we demonstrated that Integra® and PELNAC® possess superior pro-adhesive and pro-angiogenetic properties. Animal models allowed us to demonstrate the ability of preseeded ADMECs on Integra® to promote the engraftment, integration and vascularization of ADMs at the site of application.