Characterization of a Topically Testable Model of Burn Injury on Human Skin Explants.

Severe burn injuries remain a major health problem due to high rates of mortality, residual morbidity, and/or aesthetic damages. To find new therapies aimed at promoting a harmonious healing of skin burns, it is important to develop models which take into account the unique properties of the human skin. Based on previously described models of burn injury performed on human skin explants, we hypothesized that maintaining explants under constant tension forces would allow to more closely reproduce the pathophysiological processes of skin remodeling.

Development and characterization of Lyophilized Transparized Decellularized stroma as a replacement for living cornea in deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty.

Corneal disease is the second cause of blindness in developing countries, where the number of corneal grafts needed by far exceeds the number available. In industrialized countries, although corneas are generally available for keratoplasty, onto inflamed and vascularized host beds they are often rejected despite immune-suppression. A non-immunogenic, transparent, cytocompatible stroma is therefore required, which can be lyophilized for long-term conservation.

Preserving Basement Membranes during Detachment of Cultivated Oral Mucosal Epithelial Cell Sheets for the Treatment of Total Bilateral Limbal Stem Cell Deficiency.

Total bilateral limbal stem cell deficiency leading to loss of corneal clarity, potential vision loss, pain, photophobia, and keratoplasty failure cannot be treated by autologous limbal transplantation, and allogeneic limbal transplantation requires subsequent immunosuppressive treatment. Cultured autologous oral mucosal epithelial cells have been shown to be safe and effective alternatives. These cells can be transplanted on supports or without support after detachment from the culture dishes.

Cell surface glycans in the human stratum corneum: distribution and depth-related changes.

During the formation of the stratum corneum (SC) barrier, the extracellular spaces of viable epidermis, rich in glycans, are filled with a highly organized lipid matrix and the plasma membranes of keratinocytes are replaced by cornified lipid envelopes. These structures comprise cross-linked proteins, including transmembrane glycoproteins and proteoglycans, covalently bound to a monolayer of cell surface ceramides. Little is known about the presence and distribution of glycans on the SC corneocytes despite their possible involvement in SC hydration, cohesion and desquamation.

Antimicrobial nanocapsules: from new solvent-free process to in vitro efficiency.

Skin and mucosal infections constitute recurrent pathologies resulting from either inappropriate antiseptic procedures or a lack of efficacy of antimicrobial products. In this field, nanomaterials offer interesting antimicrobial properties (eg, long-lasting activity; intracellular and tissular penetration) as compared to conventional products. The aim of this work was to produce, by a new solvent-free process, a stable and easily freeze-dryable chlorhexidine-loaded polymeric nanocapsule (CHX-NC) suspension, and then to assess the antimicrobial properties of nanomaterials.