Reconstruction of skin has now become more safe and effective with the introduction of a new biodegradable scaffold – which temporarily protects the skin till it heals totally. The new type of scaffold closely resembles natural skin.
The finely electro-spinned 3-dimensional scaffold is dissolvable and is made from specially developed polymers. It looks like tissue paper but the fibers are 100 times finer.
The credit goes to tissue engineers and chemists at the University of Sheffield. It is designed primarily for cases that involve extensive burns — and where surgeons cannot take enough skin grafts from elsewhere on the body to cover the damaged areas.
Before the scaffold is placed over a wound, the skin cells of the patient are introduced and attach themselves to the scaffold. The cells multiply on it until they eventually grow over it. It is then placed over the wound, where the scaffold harmlessly dissolves over 6 to 8 weeks and leaves the patient’s skin cells behind.
The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council has funded the project.
Via: medindia
