Application of "Intelligent Protection Gel" Mixed Cell Suspension in Vitiligo Surgery

At 7 PM on July 2nd, Dr. Chen Jie from the Department of Dermatology at the Air Force Characteristic Medical Center will give an online presentation on 'Exploration of Thermosensitive Hydroxybutyl Chitosan Hydrogel in Autologous Non-Cultured Epidermal Cell Transplantation in Stable Vitiligo Patients'.

Vitiligo is a common skin disease, and surgery is the most common treatment method.

In recent years, non-cultured epidermal cell suspension transplantation technology has been continuously improved and developed, and has been favored by dermatologists and patients. Its advantages are mainly reflected in its operability in the operating room, fewer operation steps, low economic cost, and the ability to be completed in one session.

There are still shortcomings in autologous uncultured epidermal cell transplantation:

The main problem is the loss of cell suspension, especially in joint areas or curved skin, resulting in uneven cell density; in addition, the surgeon's skill may affect the stability of vitiligo transplantation results; and there are also problems such as changes in the patient's skin texture, secondary infections, and scarring.

To address the issues of cell suspension loss and low utilization, tissue engineering materials are needed to lock in cells and allow them to grow on the surgical wound for an extended period.

A novel tissue engineering material—thermosensitive hydroxybutyl chitosan hydrogel—is used to construct a cell suspension scaffold in autologous non-cultured epidermal cell transplantation surgery for patients with stable vitiligo. It locks the cell suspension onto the surgical wound, shortening the operation time, conserving seed cells, expanding the transplant area, reducing surgical costs, and improving surgical outcomes. It provides an ideal solution for maximizing the utilization of cell suspensions.

Case observations also confirmed the role of thermosensitive hydroxybutyl chitosan hydrogel in tissue engineering materials, which improved the therapeutic effect.