In vitro artificial skin engineering by decellularized placental scaffold for secondary skin problems of meningomyelocele.

Background: Meningomyelocele (MMC) is a condition that is originated by the fusion defect of the neural tube. It is a congenital anomaly and can be characterized by spinal cord defects and impaired skin integrity. It is very important to close the skin openings via three-dimensional artificial skin like construction for preventing infection and maintaining the healthy skin structure. Therefore, we aim to generate artificial skin like structures formed by the own cells of donor for treating the MMC-related skin disorder.

Methods: In this study, waste placental tissues were collected and decellularization process was applied. Decellularized and normal placental tissues were compared by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Donor's own placental stem cells were seeded onto biological scaffold and were differentiated into skin related cell types. Finally, gene expressions were evaluated, and the structural integrity were analyzed with IHC. Tube formation assay was also performed for examining the angiogenesis formation of the tissue in order to evaluate the possibility of a healthy organ development.

Results: Characterization experiments proved that the decellularized skin preserved a normal skin 3D construction and vasculature along with significant ECM arrangements. The well-kept placental ECM scaffold was cytocompatible, supportive of mesenchymal cell types. Native organ related scaffold is expected to carry a huge influence in skin tissue engineering via delivering a niche for skin-based cells and even for stem/progenitor cells. Regarding to the data obtained from this study, in vivo investigation the skin-like structure in animal models is thought to be the next step as a future prospect.

Conclusion: This study is a reference investigation for skin engineering based on placental stem cells and biological scaffolds.