Evaluation of ultra-thin poly(epsilon-caprolactone) films for tissue-engineered skin

Various natural and synthetic polymeric materials have been used as scaffol d matrices for tissue-engineered skin. However, the commercially available skin replacement products pose problems of poor mechanical properties and i mmunological rejection. We have thus developed a film of 5 mum thickness, v ia biaxial stretching of poly(epsilon -caprolactone) (PCL), as a potential matrix for living skin replacements. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of using biaxially stretched PCL films as matrices for cult uring human dermal fibroblasts. For this purpose, we cultured human dermal fibroblasts for 7 days on the films. Glass cover slips and polyurethane (PU ) sheets were used as controls. The data from phase contrast light, confoca l laser, and scanning electron microscopy suggested that biaxially stretche d PCL films support the attachment and proliferation of human dermal fibrob lasts. Thymidine-labeling results showed quantitatively that cell prolifera tion on the PCL films was superior to that on the PU samples. These results indicated that biaxially stretched PCL films supported the growth of human dermal fibroblasts and might have potential to be applied in tissue engine ering a dermal equivalent or skin graft.