Efficacy of novel collagen/gelatin scaffold with sustained release of basic fibroblast growth factor for dermis-like tissue regeneration.

We have developed collagen/gelatin sponges (CGS) with a gelatin concentration of 10 wt% to sustain the release of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). The objective of this study is to elucidate the efficacy of CGS impregnated with different concentrations of bFGF, using mouse skin defects. CGSs impregnated with normal saline solution (NSS) or bFGF solution (1, 7, 14, or 50 μg/cm) were implanted into full-thickness skin defects on the backs of mice. The wound area, neoepithelium length, and total area of newly formed capillaries in CGS were evaluated. The group of CGS with 7-μg/cm bFGF was significantly superior to the NSS group in all evaluated items. CGS impregnated with the appropriate dosage of bFGF accelerates dermis-like tissue formation 2 or 3 times earlier than existing artificial dermis. The combination of CGS and bFGF could solve the problem of the existing artificial dermis and be very promising for the treatment of skin defects.