Chitosan based scaffolds for skin regeneration prepared by alternative ionizing radiation technologies

Abstract

Maria Helena Casimiro

In what concerns deep partial and full-thickness skin wounds, it is known that they do not spontaneously regenerate and to restore the normal function of skin, epidermal and dermal components have to be supplied to the wound bed. However conventional methods used in the treatment of these skin wounds provide only a temporary cover until grafting can be performed. Engineered scaffolds are designed to improve or replace damaged, missing, or otherwise compromised tissues or organs. The present work is part of a Coordinated Research Project from International Atomic Energy Agency and intends to engineer chitosan based matrices using ionizing radiation technology to simultaneously create/sterilize a skin substitute that leads to tissue regeneration. The advantage over more conventional methodologies would be the inexistence of initiators or solvents usage and the possibility of preparation and sterilization in one single step. Several chitosan based matrices with poly vinyl pyrrolidone were obtained by gamma irradiation from a Co-60 source.