Development of an engineering autologous palatal mucosa-like tissue for potential clinical applications

The goal of this study was to optimize key processes in recreating functional and viable palatal mucosa‐like tissue that would be easy to handle and would promote wound healing. Normal human gingival fibroblasts and epithelial cells and a clinically useful biomaterial, CollaTape®, were used. Structural and ultrastructural analyses showed that the gingival fibroblasts and epithelial cells adhered to the biomaterial and proliferated. Following a 6‐day culture, using 105 fibroblasts and 106 epithelial cells, a well‐organized palatal mucosa‐like tissue was engineered. The engineered epithelium displayed various layers, including a stratum corneum, and contained cytokeratin 16‐positive cells located in the supra‐basal layer. This palatal mucosa‐like engineered tissue was designed to meet a variety of surgical needs. The biodegradable collagen membrane (CollaTape) contributed to the flexibility of the engineered tissue. This engineered innovative tissue may contribute to the reconstruction of oral soft‐tissue defects secondary to trauma, congenital defects, and acquired diseases. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2007