Full-thickness wound healing using 3D bioprinted gelatin-alginate scaffolds in mice: A histopathological study

This study aimed to determine the effect of the 3D bioprinted gelatin-alginate scaffold on the full-thickness skin wound healing on mouse back and to observe the histopathological changes during the wound healing process. Using a murine wound model, full skin thickness excisions were created on the dorsum of 40 mice. Then, each mouse was randomly assigned to either the control group or treatment group, in which the surface of the wound was either covered with a traditionally used ointment or the bioactive scaffold, respectively. The bioactive scaffold consisted of a layered gelatin-alginate polymer grid containing regular holes of an appropriate size that was printed using a 3D bioprinter. Efficacy was determined by qualitative comparisons of photographs of the wounds during healing as well as histopathological changes of tissue samples taken throughout the healing process. It was observed that the average healing time of the control mice was 16±1 days, while that of the treatment mice was 14±1 days. Futher histological analysis also revealed improved healing in the treatment mice. Overall, our results suggest that the gelatin-alginate bioactive scaffold accelerates skin wound healing through facilitating granulation and scar tissue formation.