Aerosol vehicle for Delivery of Epidermal Cells – An in Vitro Study

Abstract

This in vitro study investigated the possibility of delivering epidermal cells to cell culture plates using a simple and inexpensive aerosolization apparatus. Full-thickness skin biopsies were incubated in dispase to separate the epidermis from the dermis, and the epidermis was treated with trypsin to separate the epidermal cells from one another. The cells were suspended in aerosolization medium (1x10⁶ cells/mL) and sprayed onto culture plates using a sterilized pump-action aerosol nozzle. The plates were incubated and microscopically examined on a daily basis. The aerosolization process was successful in consistently delivering a uniform distribution of suspended epidermal cells. By day 4 there was evidence of cell proliferation, and by days 7 to 9 a confluent layer of cells was achieved on the plates. The monolayer consisted primarily of keratinocytes interspersed with a few fibroblasts. The aerosol method was shown to be effective at delivering a suspension of viable epidermal cells to a culture plate.