Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) evaluation were carried out in the in vivo skin construct using fibrin as biomaterial. To investigate its progressive remodeling, nude mice were grafted and the Extracellular Matrix (ECM) components were studied at four and eight weeks post-grafting. It was discovered that by 4 weeks of remodeling the skin construct acquired its native structure.
Collagen/*physiology ; Extracellular Matrix/pathology ; Fibroblasts/pathology ; Mice, Nude ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Regeneration/*physiology ; Skin/*pathology ; *Skin Transplantation/pathology ; *Tissue Engineering

Chitosan has similar structure to glycosaminoglycans in the tissue, thus may be a good candidates as tissue engineering scaffold. However, to improve their cell attachment ability, we try to incorporate this natural polymer with collagen by combining it via cross-linking process. In this preliminary study we evaluate the cell attachment ability of chitosan-collagen scaffold versus chitosan scaffold alone. Chitosan and collagen were dissolved in 1% acetic acid and then were frozen for 24 hours before the lyophilizing process. Human skin fibroblasts were seeded into both scaffold and were cultured in F12: DMEM (1:1). Metabolic activity assay were used to evaluate cell attachment ability of scaffold for a period of 1, 3, 7 and 14 days. Scanning electron micrographs shows good cell morphology on chitosan-collagen hybrid scaffold. In conclusion, the incorporation of collagen to chitosan will enhance its cell attachment ability and will be a potential scaffold in tissue engineering.
Cell Adhesion/*physiology ; *Chitosan ; *Collagen ; Energy Metabolism/physiology ; Fibroblasts/cytology ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Organ Culture Techniques/*methods ; *Polymers ; Tissue Engineering/*methods