Scarring, Stem Cells, Scaffolds, and Skin Repair

October 2013 in “ Journal of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine ”

Daniel Markeson, Jonathon Pleat, Justin R. Sharpe, Adrian L. Harris, Alexander M. Seifalian, Suzanne M. Watt

stem cells scaffolds skin repair autologous skin grafting endothelial precursors vasculogenesis cellularized scaffolds biomaterials revascularization wound healing skin grafts smart biomaterials

Studysummary This review examines the role of endothelial precursors and cellularized scaffolds in wound repair and revascularization for treating full thickness skin loss, but reports no new clinical results.

Our plain-language summary. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing treatment. Full disclaimer

The review discussed the challenges in treating full-thickness skin loss, particularly in large burns, due to the limitations of current tissue-engineered substrates in replicating the epidermal and dermal niches. Autologous skin grafting, the standard treatment, was found inadequate due to issues like scarring and limited donor sites. The review explored the role of stem/progenitor cells in wound repair, focusing on endothelial precursors and their role in vasculogenesis. It also examined advancements in cellularized scaffolds and smart biomaterials aimed at enhancing revascularization, wound healing, and cosmetic outcomes.

View this study on doi.org →

Discuss this study in the Community →

Research cited in this study

8 / 8 results

research A Matter of Life and Death: Self-Renewal in Stem Cells

150 citations , December 2012 in “EMBO Reports”

This review explores the mechanisms of adult stem cell self-renewal, using skin as a model, and reports no new results but raises important unanswered questions in the field.

research Epithelial Stem Cells And Implications For Wound Repair

156 citations , October 2012 in “Seminars in Cell & Developmental Biology”

This study found that hair follicle stem cells initially contribute to wound re-epithelialization, but long-lasting epidermal cells are primarily derived from a stem cell population in the isthmus portion of hair follicles.

research Identification of Stem Cell Populations in Sweat Glands and Ducts Reveals Roles in Homeostasis and Wound Repair

265 citations , July 2012 in “Cell”

This study found multipotent progenitors in sweat ducts that become unipotent after sweat gland development, highlighting distinct regenerative capabilities in adult glandular skin stem cell populations.

research Dextran Hydrogel Scaffolds Enhance Angiogenic Responses and Promote Complete Skin Regeneration During Burn Wound Healing

527 citations , December 2011 in “Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences”

This study found that dextran-based hydrogels promoted significant neovascularization and skin regeneration in mouse models of third-degree burns, without the need for additional growth factors or cells.

research Vitamin D Metabolism and Function in the Skin

185 citations , June 2011 in “Molecular and cellular endocrinology”

This review discusses the regulation and function of vitamin D and its receptor in skin cells, highlighting their roles in processes such as proliferation inhibition, differentiation, and innate immunity, but reports no new results.

research Human Eccrine Sweat Gland Cells Can Reconstitute a Stratified Epidermis

103 citations , April 2010 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology”

This study reports that human eccrine sweat gland cells are capable of forming a stratified epidermis, suggesting they may serve as an additional source of keratinocytes for skin repair.

research Epidermal Stem Cell Diversity and Quiescence

168 citations , August 2009 in “EMBO molecular medicine”

This review discusses epidermal stem cell diversity, revealing previously unrecognized differences in stem cell populations, but reports no new experimental results; it highlights the need for further exploration of stem cell interactions and quiescence.

research Scratching the Surface of Skin Development

788 citations , February 2007 in “Nature”

This review explores how adult skin epithelia preserve stem cell populations for hair follicle regeneration and wound healing, but reports no new experimental results.