Spongy matrix of hyaluronic acid and collagen as a cultured dermal substitute: evaluation in an animal test.

The authors have developed a two-layered spongy matrix composed of hyaluronic acid (HA) and atelo-collagen (Col) as a cultured dermal substitute (CDS). This spongy matrix was applied to a full-thickness skin defect on the dorsum of Sprague-Dawley rats, and the wound conditions were observed over a period of 2 weeks. A piece of two-layered spongy matrix was applied to the wound, over which a commercially available polyurethane film dressing was applied. Both the macroscopic and the histological evaluations indicate that the two-layered spongy matrix is able to prepare a highly vascularized granulation tissue at an early stage. These findings suggest that this type of spongy matrix would be useful as a CDS.