Deposition of elastic fibres in a murine cutaneous wound-healing model

Abstract of paper from TCES (Tissue and Cell Engineering Society) meeting in 2005. The ability of the skin to extend and recoil is mediated by an elastic fibre network comprising elastin molecules deposited on a microfibrillar scaffold. Studies have demonstrated reduced tensile strength in scar tissue following cutaneous wounding, possibly due to decreased amounts of elastic fibres1. The dermal component of artificial skin substitutes also lacks an organised elastic fibre network, which may contribute to excessive contraction and scarring post-grafting. This study aimed to document the temporal and spatial distribution of elastic fibres following incisional and excisional cutaneous wounding in mice