Development of cell-laden 3D scaffold for wound management of acute burns and trauma

In our project, we will focus on developing a wound dressing with allogeneic mesenchymal stem cell-laden biocompatible hydrogel that has the potential to incorporate onto the body and accelerate and optimise healing and even potentially become a substitute for autologous skin grafts. The innovation in this project relies on the development of a hydrogel sheet containing cell-laden allogenic Mesenchymal Stem Cells to promote active wound healing and wound closure in traumatic wound. Hydrogel provides a moist environment around the wound site which is ideal for extensive healing for both exudating and necrotic wounds. The role of Mesenchymal Stem Cells in wound healing has a promising outcome and has been researched extensively in the last few decades. Moreover, allogeneic-MSCs have been shown to evade immune rejection by the host as they express very low levels of MHC class I, no MHC class II and do not induce activation of allogeneic lymphocytes. It also has greater regenerative and wound closure properties than other skin cell types like fibroblast and keratinocyte by inducing re-epithelisation and angiogenesis.