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Development and ultra-structure of an ultra-thin silicone epidermis of bioengineered alternative tissue

Research output: Contribution to Journal/MagazineJournal articlepeer-review

Published
  • Quenton Wessels
  • Etheresia Pretorius
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<mark>Journal publication date</mark>08/2015
<mark>Journal</mark>International Wound Journal
Issue number4
Volume12
Number of pages4
Pages (from-to)428-431
Publication StatusPublished
Early online date9/07/13
<mark>Original language</mark>English

Abstract

Burn wound care today has a primary objective of temporary or permanent wound closure. Commercially available engineered alternative tissues have become a valuable adjunct to the treatment of burn injuries. Their constituents can be biological, alloplastic or a combination of both. Here the authors describe the aspects of the development of a siloxane epidermis for a collagen-glycosaminoglycan and for nylon-based artificial skin replacement products. A method to fabricate an ultra-thin epidermal equivalent is described. Pores, to allow the escape of wound exudate, were punched and a tri-filament nylon mesh or collagen scaffold was imbedded and silicone polymerisation followed at 120°C for 5 minutes. The ultra-structure of these bilaminates was assessed through scanning electron microscopy. An ultra-thin biomedical grade siloxane film was reliably created through precision coating on a pre-treated polyethylene terephthalate carrier.