The development of novel dermal matrices for cutaneous wound repair

Advances in the development of novel dermal matrices have been driven by the demand for skin replacement in patients with large burn injuries. Over the past 25 years, there have been great leaps made forward from the use of cadaveric allograft and classical split-thickness autografts to epidermal, dermal and composite in vitro tissue-engineered skin constructs. New biotechnological techniques have led to skin substitutes that histologically and functionally mimic the properties of native human skin. In this article, we look at the chronological advancements in novel dermal matrices and their applications.

Section editor:Mike P. Philpott – Queen Mary School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of London, UK