The Search for an Ideal Temporary Skin Substitute: AWBAT Plus, a Combination Product Wound Dressing Medical Device

OBJECTIVE To create an ideal temporary skin substitute. METHODS Temporary skin substitute (Biobrane, AWBAT and AWBAT Plus) porosity, 3D matrix, and biochemical composition were evaluated for impact on healing wounds (pain, fluid accumulation, infection, and time to heal). Twenty-four Sprague-Dawley [H1a: (SD) CVF] rats were used to measure the histology of healed full-thickness wounds. Tissue culture methods were used to measure the influence of Immuno-10 on human dermal fibroblasts: proliferation, collagen, and alpha-smooth muscle actin. RESULTS In full-thickness wounds (rats), histological evidence suggests better reepithelialization of wounds covered with AWBAT Plus than those with AWBAT. Tissue culture techniques revealed that key biological additives to AWBAT Plus stimulated human dermal fibroblast growth, collagen synthesis, and alpha-smooth muscle actin production. Human keratinocyte growth was also promoted by a key biological element in AWBAT Plus. Interestingly, human mesenchymal stem cells grew well on the AWBAT Plus membrane. Clinically, AWBAT Plus protected widely meshed autograft, which healed more uniformly and faster than cadaver allograft. CONCLUSION AWBAT Plus shows a great promise as a major advancement in wound care.