Studies on gelatin-containing artificial skin: II. Preparation and characterization of cross-linked gelatin-hyaluronate sponge

This study was conducted to develop a new sponge type of biomaterial to be used for either wound dressing or scaffold for tissue engineering. We were able to prepare an insoluble matrix composed of gelatin and sodium hyaluron ate (HA) by dipping the soluble sponge into 90% (w/v) acetone/water mixture containing a small amount of cross-linking agent, 1-ethyl-3-3-dimethylamin oproplycarbodiimide hydrochloride, EDC, To characterize the sponge, Fourier -transformed infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (S EM), and Instron analysis were performed. The obtained results indicate tha t the chemically cross-linked sponge shows a cross-linking degree of 10-35% , a mean pore size of 40-160 mu m, porosity of 35-67%, and a tensile streng th of 10-30 gf/cm(2). Especially, the porosity measured by image analysis s howed a tendency to increase with HA content, resulting in an increased wat er uptake. The resistance to collagenase degradation in vitro increased for up to 2 days. Silver sulfadiazine (AgSD)-impregnated gelatin-Hi sponge was also prepared and compared with conventional vaseline gauze by applying it onto a dorsal skin defect of wistar rat for 5, 12, and 21 days, Histologic al results showed an enhancement of wound healing in AgSD-impregnated gelat in-HA sponge. (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.