Gwenaël Rolin

Dermal Equivalents in Oncology: Benefit of One-Stage Procedure

BACKGROUND In oncology, dermal equivalent may be indicated to cover losses of substance related to skin tumors or after the removal of skin flaps. OBJECTIVE To report our experience of two dermal equivalents, Matriderm 1 mm with a one‐stage graft (DE1) and Integra DL with a two‐stage graft (DE2) in oncology. PATIENTS AND METHOD Retrospective, single‐center study involving 16 patients. RESULTS Sixteen patients received dermal equivalents as an alternative to flaps (7 cases), over tendinous areas (7 cases), and for cosmetic purposes (2 cases). Twelve patients received DE1 and four DE2. Wound healing times with DE1 were 4 weeks less than those with DE2. Three cases of infection were noted with DE2. The use of dermal equivalents as an alternative to skin flaps was effective, and no adhesions were found over the tendinous areas. CONCLUSION The learning curve, the two‐stage graft required with DE2, and not using a vacuum‐assisted closure system can explain the high infection rate. The use of dermal equivalents is particularly indicated in the treatment of skin defect in oncology. The possibility of a one‐stage graft with DE1 and combination with negative pressure therapy is beneficial.

Development and characterization of a human dermal equivalent with physiological mechanical properties.

Different models of reconstructed skin are available, either to provide skin wound healing when this process is deficient, or to be used as an in vitro model. Nevertheless, few studies have focused on the mechanical properties of skin equivalent. Indeed, human skin is naturally under tension. Taking into account these features, the purpose of this work was to obtain a cellularized dermal equivalent (CDE), composed of collagen and dermal fibroblasts.

A human skin culture system for a wound-healing model.

The human body is very vulnerable and has to deal with open wounds due to injuries or diseases. A human skin culture model could help us to investigate wound-healing processes in an effort to find ...

3D modeling of keloid scars in vitro by cell and tissue engineering

Keloids are pathologic scars defined as dermal fibrotic tumors resulting from a disturbance of skin wound healing process. Treatments against keloids are multiple, sometimes empirical and none of them really provides an effective tool for physicians. The lack of effective treatments is correlated with the poor understanding of keloid pathogenesis. To fill this gap, researchers need strong models mimicking keloids as closely as possible. The objective of this study was to establish in vitro a new reconstructed keloid model (RKM), by combining fibroblasts extracted from the three major area of a keloid (center, periphery, non-lesional) in a three-dimensional biomaterial. To this aim, fibroblasts of three keloid locations were extracted and characterized, and then integrated in a hydrated collagen gel matrix during a three-step procedure. The heterogeneity of fibroblasts was assessed according to their proliferative and remodeling capacities. RKMs were further visualized and characterized by both light and scanning electron microscopy. This reconstructed keloid model should be very useful for investigating keloid fibroblasts function in conditions mimicking in vivo situation. Moreover, RKM should also be a suitable model for either drug study and discovery or innovative approaches using medical devices both during cancer and cancer-like disease investigation.