Beckman Laser Institute & Medical Clinic, University of California - Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA.
Beckman Laser Institute & Medical Clinic, University of California - Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA.
J Dermatol Sci. 2020 Mar;97(3):179-186. doi: 10.1016/j.jdermsci.2020.01.006. Epub 2020 Jan 18.
Minimally-invasive methods to treat scars address a common pathway of altering collagen structure, leading to collagen remodeling.
In this study, we employed in situ redox chemistry to create focal pH gradients in skin, altering dermal collagen, in a process we refer to as electrochemical therapy (ECT). The effects of ECT to induce biochemical and structural changes in ex vivo porcine skin were examined.
During ECT, two platinum electrodes were inserted into fresh porcine skin, and following saline injection, an electrical potential was applied. pH mapping, high frequency ultrasonography, and two photon excitation microscopy and second harmonic generation (SHG) microscopy were used to evaluate treatment effects. Findings were correlated with histology.
Following ECT, pH mapping depicted acid and base production at anode and cathode sites respectively, with increasing voltage and application time. Gas formation during ECT was observed with ultrasonography. Anode sites showed significant loss of SHG signal, while cathode sites showed disorganized collagen structure with fewer fibrils emitting an attainable signal. Histologically, collagen denaturation at both sites was confirmed.
We demonstrated the production of in situ acid and base in skin occurring via ECT. The effects chemically and precisely alter collagen structure through denaturation, giving insight on the potential of ECT as a simple, low-cost, and minimally-invasive means to remodel skin and treat scars.
微创治疗疤痕的方法主要通过改变胶原结构来达到重塑胶原的目的。
本研究采用原位氧化还原化学方法在皮肤中产生局部 pH 梯度，改变真皮胶原，我们称之为电化学治疗（ECT）。研究了 ECT 对猪离体皮肤诱导生化和结构变化的影响。
在 ECT 过程中，将两个铂电极插入新鲜猪皮中，然后注入生理盐水后施加电势。使用 pH 映射、高频超声、双光子激发显微镜和二次谐波产生（SHG）显微镜来评估治疗效果。结果与组织学相关联。
ECT 后，pH 图分别在阳极和阴极部位描绘出酸和碱的产生，随着电压和应用时间的增加而增加。超声检查观察到 ECT 过程中的气体形成。阳极部位的 SHG 信号明显减少，而阴极部位的胶原结构紊乱，发出可探测信号的纤维减少。组织学上，两个部位的胶原均发生变性。
我们证明了 ECT 可在皮肤中产生原位酸和碱。通过变性，化学和精确地改变胶原结构，为 ECT 作为一种简单、低成本、微创的重塑皮肤和治疗疤痕的方法提供了新的见解。
