OBJECTIVETo construct composite skin containing living cells and to observe its significance in the repair of full skin loss in mice.

METHODSThe dermal substitute was formed by culturing heterogeneous fibroblasts on the acellular chondrocyte collagen scaffold for 3 days, and then cultured on the epithelial membrane for another 10 days, to form the composite skin containing living cells. The composite skin was grafted onto full layer skin defect. The growth condition was observed and biopsies were harvested for histologic examination.

RESULTSBoth fibroblasts and stratified epithelium grew well in the collagen scaffold. The composite skin adhered tightly to wounds of the mice, with obvious vascularization one week after grafting. The grafts began to merge with the wound margin at 6 post operation weeks without obvious signs of rejection.

CONCLUSIONFull skin loss could be repaired by composite skin formed by acellular chondrocyte collagen scaffold as a skin substitute.