Skin equivalent containing collagen-human hair keratin matrice for formation of neodermis

The study explored the formation of a neo-dermis using a dermal skin equivalent containing collagen-human hair keratin (HHK) grafted subcutaneously in rats. Histological and immunohistological analyses showed that 4 days post-grafting, the graft was infiltrated by endothelial and inflammatory cells. By 10 days, the graft was vascularized and colonized by various cell types. After 3 weeks, HHK was degraded, and new collagenous fibers formed. By 6 weeks, the graft was mostly replaced by new collagenous fibers, with scattered elastic fibers observed. The study concluded that HHK could be used as a matrix to restore skin structure.