Wound Care - Part II: Tissue-engineered skin substitutes & other advanced wound therapies.

Abstract

Biological products including tissue-engineered skin tissue and growth factors have become an important treatment option for wound repair and regeneration. Tissue-based products include components that replicate properties of normal human skin, such as cell cultures of fibroblasts and keratinocytes, to promote healing and remodelling. Such products can be generally categorized as epidermal, dermal, and composite skin replacements and more recently classified as cellular, acellular, matrix-like products (CAMPs). The selection is based on the wound type, location, dimension, any undermining and periwound skin. Despite multiple studies on cost effectiveness, drawbacks to tissue-based products and advance wound therapies include high cost, access, short shelf-life, specific storage requirements, and restricted indications. This review will provide a summary of indications and limitations of the types of CAMPS and biomaterials available for treatment of wounds.