J Burn Care Res. 2025 Nov 28:iraf219. doi: 10.1093/jbcr/iraf219. Online ahead of print.

Timely closure of acute, full-thickness wounds is critical in minimizing complications such as infection, fluid loss, and impaired healing, all of which can adversely affect long-term patient outcomes. Although meshed autografting is the current standard of care, its effectiveness is limited by the need for donor skin and the re-epithelialization of expanded interstices. Prior research has shown that combining meshed autografts with skin cell suspension autograft (SCSA) enhances epidermal regeneration. In this study, we further investigate the mechanisms by which SCSA promotes re-epithelialization when applied with a widely expanded (3:1) meshed autograft in a full-thickness porcine wound model. Histological analyses demonstrate complete closure of graft interstices as early as three days post-surgery. A dual mechanism of re-epithelialization was observed, with keratinocytes migrating both from the edge of healthy skin from the interstice and within the center of interstices to form a continuous epithelial monolayer. The presence of a high number of proliferating cells in the wound bed further supports the regenerative activity of SCSA. These findings offer valuable mechanistic insight into the role of SCSA in accelerating wound closure and provide additional evidence for its use in improving outcomes for patients with acute full-thickness wounds.

PubMed:41313242 | DOI:10.1093/jbcr/iraf219