Regeneration of skin tissue promoted by mesenchymal stem cells seeded in nanostructured membrane

Background: The mesenchymal stem cell therapy has proven to be an effective option in the treatment of skin injuries. The combination of these cells with nanostructured membranes seems to be the future for tissues recovery. The aim of this project was to use biomolecules of polysaccharides to be incorporated on regenerated cellulose membranes and to prospect the improvement as bioactive wound dressings with mesenchymal stem cells.

Methods: The biocomposites were obtained after defibrillation with the use of never-dried bacterial cellulose to form a pulp, and, after the films were regenerated, in the presence of gellan gum with or without fluconazole. Membrane atomic force microscopy was performed for comparison of their structures.

Results: Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells were obtained from human adipose tissue liposuction in accordance with Zuk et al. The flow cytometric analysis and induction tests for adipocytes and osteocytes were performed. In vitro assays were performed on different membranes to evaluate the ability of these cells to adhere at 2 hours and proliferate at 7 days; the results were obtained by use of the MTT cell counting technique. In vivo testing allowed us to observe cell migration and participation in wound-healing by fluorescence labeling of the cells with BrdU. The bioactive curative, seeded with cells, was tested in skin burned in a murine model.

Conclusions: The bacterial cellulose with gelan gum membrane incorporated with fluconazole presented the best performance in adhesion and proliferation tests. The cells can be identified in burned host tissue after occurrence of the wound.