Institute for Human Tissue Restoration, Department of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. dhlew@yuhs.ac
Abstract
PURPOSE This study was conducted to identify the most effective method in cell therapy by comparing and analyzing the level of wound healing after the application of various cell delivery methods. METHODS: Human mesenchymal stem cells were administered using 5 different methods on full thickness skin defects which were deliberately created on the back of 4-week-old mice using a 8 mm punch. Different modes of administration, cell suspension, local injection, collagen GAG matrix seeding, fibrin, and hydrogel mix methods were used. In each experiment group, 4x10(5) mesenchymal stem cells were administered according to 5 deferent methods, except for the corresponding control group. RESULTS The wound healing rate was fastest in the local injection group. The wound healing rate was relatively slow in the collagen matrix group, however, the number of blood vessels or VEGF increased most in this group. CONCLUSION For rapid wound healing through wound contraction, it is advantageous to administer MSC by the local injection method. For the healing process of a wide area, such as a burn, the seeding of cells to collagen matrix is thought to be effective.