Journal: Materials Today Bio

Article Title: Ultra-thin elastin-based membranes as an innovative dressing to enhance skin wound healing

doi: 10.1016/j.mtbio.2026.102898

Figure Lengend Snippet: Cell migration evaluation. A) Schematic illustration of the transwell migration assay showing cell seeding on the ELR membrane, migration through the membrane pores and transwell insert, and cell accumulation on the lower surface of the insert. Representative image of B) HFF-1 fibroblasts and C) HaCaT keratinocytes that migrated through the VKV-SKS membrane after 15 days of incubation. Experiments were performed using four independent samples (n = 4). D) A uniform gap size was achieved by employing a specific protocol involving the use of inserts. E) Quantitative analysis of the scratch wound recovery index (SWRI) widths at the indicated time points quantified by measuring the area of the scratched region. Data are shown as mean ± SEM with individual data points. Statistical analysis was performed using one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey's multiple-comparisons test. Significance levels reported as follows: ∗∗∗ (P < 0.001), ∗∗∗∗ (P < 0.0001). F) Representative photographs of the migration of serum-free keratinocytes in the presence of VKV-SKS membranes for wound closure at the indicated time points following the scratch. Scale bar = 200 μm.

Article Snippet: Biocompatibility was evaluated using two human cell lines: HFF-1 human foreskin fibroblasts (ATCC® SCRC-1041) and HaCaT immortalized human keratinocytes (CLS-300493).

Techniques: Migration, Transwell Migration Assay, Membrane, Incubation

Journal: Materials Today Bio

Article Title: Ultra-thin elastin-based membranes as an innovative dressing to enhance skin wound healing

doi: 10.1016/j.mtbio.2026.102898

Figure Lengend Snippet: Cytocompatibility and Cytotoxicity. A) Cell viability values obtained from an MTS assay conducted on HFF-1 and HaCaT cells seeded onto a VKV-SKS membrane and cultured for 48 h. Data are presented as mean ± SEM (n = 4 independent biological replicates). B) Effect of the ELR membrane on LDH release after 24 h of culturing. Data are presented as mean ± SEM (n = 4 independent biological replicates). C) Fluorescence microscope images of stained fibroblasts (HFF-1) and keratinocytes (HaCaT) cells, seeded onto VKV-SKS membranes, during a 21-day culture period. Green staining distinguished live cells, while red staining revealed cell death. A slight autofluorescence was detected on membranes in the green channel. Scale bar: 100 μm. D) Representative crystal violet staining images of cell culture on membranes for fibroblasts after 15 days of incubation. (E) Representative crystal violet staining images of cell culture on membranes for keratinocytes after 15 days of incubation. F) Number of colonies formed within ELR membranes. G) Plating efficiency refers to the ratio of the number of colonies to the number of cells seeded. Data are presented as mean ± SEM (n = 4 independent biological replicates). Significance levels reported as follows: ∗ (P < 0.05), ∗∗ (P < 0.01), ∗∗∗ (P < 0.001), and ∗∗∗∗ (P < 0.0001). (For interpretation of the references to color in this figure legend, the reader is referred to the Web version of this article.)

Article Snippet: Biocompatibility was evaluated using two human cell lines: HFF-1 human foreskin fibroblasts (ATCC® SCRC-1041) and HaCaT immortalized human keratinocytes (CLS-300493).

Techniques: MTS Assay, Membrane, Cell Culture, Fluorescence, Microscopy, Staining, Incubation

Journal: Materials Today Bio

Article Title: Ultra-thin elastin-based membranes as an innovative dressing to enhance skin wound healing

doi: 10.1016/j.mtbio.2026.102898

Figure Lengend Snippet: Immunofluorescence staining of fibroblasts and keratinocytes on an ELR-based membrane for 7 and 14 days. A) Expression of multiple markers relevant for fibroblasts. Scale bar = 25 μm. B) Expression of multiple markers pertinent to keratinocytes. Scale bar = 25 μm. C) Gene expression in cells on the VKV-SKS membrane. The expression of VCL, ACTA2 and PTK2 genes in fibroblasts (HFF-1) and D) VCL, KRT14, KRT10, PTK2 and CDH1 genes in keratinocytes (HaCaT) were quantified by qRT-PCR. Gene expression was quantified by qRT-PCR using TaqMan assays, normalized to 18S rRNA as housekeeping genes, and expressed as fold change calculated by the ΔΔCt method. Quantification was performed using n = 3 independent biological replicates per condition. Gene expression data were analysed using one-way ANOVA followed by Dunnett's multiple comparisons test, with day 0 used as the reference. Significance levels reported as follows: (ns (P > 0.05), ∗ (P < 0.05), ∗∗ (P < 0.01), ∗∗∗ (P < 0.001), ∗∗∗∗ (P < 0.0001)).

Article Snippet: Biocompatibility was evaluated using two human cell lines: HFF-1 human foreskin fibroblasts (ATCC® SCRC-1041) and HaCaT immortalized human keratinocytes (CLS-300493).

Techniques: Immunofluorescence, Staining, Membrane, Expressing, Gene Expression, Quantitative RT-PCR