Tag Archives: acellular dermal matrix

Acellular dermal matrix for chronic wound treatment: dry or wet?

A. I. Dovhaliuk1, O. I. Kulianda2, N. V. Ohinska1, O. S. Redko1,
O. O. Kulianda3, A. O. Kovalchuk4, V. V. Kulbitska1, S. B. Kramar1,
Z. M. Nebesna1, M. M. Korda2, O. O. Shevchuk5*

1Department of Histology and Embryology, Ivan Horbachevsky Ternopil National Medical University, Ternopil, Ukraine;
2Department of Medical Biochemistry, Ivan Horbachevsky Ternopil
National Medical University, Ternopil, Ukraine;
3Department of Pathophysiology, Ivan Horbachevsky Ternopil
National Medical University, Ternopil, Ukraine;
4Central Research Laboratory, Ivan Horbachevsky Ternopil
National Medical University, Ternopil, Ukraine;
5Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology,
Ivan Horbachevsky Ternopil National Medical University, Ternopil, Ukraine;
*e-mail: shevchukoo@tdmu.edu.ua

Received: 27 May 2026; Revised: 19 June 2026;
Accepted: 27 July 2026; Available on-line: August 2026

Background. Chronic wounds pose a serious clinical and economic burden, and their effective treatment requires the development of new biomaterials that promote tissue regeneration. Acellular dermal matrices (ADMs) represent a promising regenerative strategy; however, their biological properties largely depend on the manu­facturing protocol. Objective. To compare the biocompatibility and cytotoxicity of two porcine acellular dermal matrix variants, dry (d-ADM) and wet (w-ADM), and to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of the biocompatible matrix in an experimental porcine model of chronic full-thickness wounds. Methods. Biocompatibility was assessed in vitro using human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hU-MSCs) by evaluating cell morphology, viability, proliferation, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release. The therapeutic efficacy of the selected ADM was investigated in a porcine chronic full-thickness excisional wound model and compared with non-adhesive dressings and Promogran Prisma. Wound healing was evaluated after 28 days using histological, immunohistochemical (TNF-α, TGF-β, Ki-67), and morphometric analyses. Results. The wet ADM preserved hU-MSC morphology, viability, and proliferative capacity, whereas the dry ADM induced marked cytotoxicity, increased LDH release, and extensive cell death. In vivo, treatment with w-ADM significantly accelerated wound healing compared with both control dressings, resulting in complete and stable re-epithelialization, minimal inflammatory infiltration, organized collagen remodeling, and improved tissue architecture. Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated significantly lower expression of TNF-α, TGF-β, and Ki-67, indicating resolution of inflammation and transition toward tissue remodeling and regene­rative stabilization. Conclusions. Wet acellular dermal matrix demonstrated excellent biocompatibility and superior regenerative performance, whereas the dry matrix exhibited unacceptable cytotoxicity. Wet ADM represents a promising scaffold for regenerative treatment of chronic wounds and warrants further investigation as a clinically applicable biomaterial, including in combination with mesenchymal stem cell-based therapies.